where or where are my raw feeders???????
Submitted by judy wilson on July 15, 2011 - 5:38pmhere i am at last...to fill the board with the wonders of raw feeding.....i just checked back a few pages...and i do not see any progress reports!!!!!!
so come out and let me hear the stories.....
have missed everyone here so much......
judy/wilson
I feed raw
Genther had so many skin issues until I started him on raw. I love it.
Maggie
Raw Feeding
Carmine was on raw for 5 years. His allergies improved greatly on it. Fantastic muscle tone and great energy. Now I cook his meals because he has gotten a very sensitive stomach in his senior years.
thats a very important statement as a dog ages
they are less able to process raw..... my 10yo i steam using a chinese wok....so i dont lose the vit and minerals i grind bone to a powder and sprinkle on his food....but he still loves a lamb rib...my vet just shakes his head over his teeth how clean they are....
post your diet for us
i love raw feeding....as everyone will tell you....its so much fun.....and i love when people post their diets and what they do and dont do...like wilson cannot tolerate liver...he has a bad allery or reaction to it...my others love it they just love it....
things like this help everyone.....you may do something that i would want to try....so maybe put out what your feeding and why.....love to hear about it
Audrey is doing GREAT!
19 months on raw and she is thriving!
The BIGGEST bestest most exciting news though is that after 16 months off of ALL chemical heartworm and flea control-she is STILL heartworm FREE! And you know we live in that "red zone" on the heartworm incidence map,and we live next to a mosquito paradise swampland, so I was really nervous about stopping the heartguard.
I found a holistic vet that also practices Traditional Chinese Medicine, I like her a LOT! She has been a vet for 25 years and doesn't believe in rigidly sticking to ONE way of doing things, she uses whatever methods she thinks she'll get the best results with.
She said Audrey was too hot, she needs cooling foods, and we got cooling herbs and calming herbs too. I was skeptical, of course, but I figured it can't hurt so why not try it? Of course with Audrey's super sensitive stomach, the herbs made her throw up. So we cut out the calming, and gave half of the cooling. Now she is taking half each of the calming and cooling herbs, and so far she IS more relaxed around the baby, and her tongue is no longer deep purplish red.
I could NOT BELIEVE her tongue lightened up! Even after playing outside in this oppressive heat, her tongue STAYS that lighter pinker color. I always thought her tongue was dark because, well, she had a dark tongue. The vet said, nope that's a sign of too much heat, or an inbalance of yin/yang. As soon as I heard that I was ready to completely dismiss it, but I told myself that a few thousand years of practicing this medicine surely taught them something valid, so I'll give it a try. I don't know WHY I am always so surprised when something other than Western medicine actually works!?
We stopped giving Audrey chicken a long time ago. The only chicken she gets now is livers once a month or so. The vet said lamb is a hot food, and so is salmon. So we stopped giving her salmon oil, and give her sardine/anchovy alternated with cod liver instead. The only lamb she has been getting is her ribs. She LOVES them!
There is an absolute difference in her tear stains when we cut out the lamb and salmon oil. I have had 3 different vets REALLY look at her eyes, and they all 3 said that they do NOT see any entropian or distichia. The holistic vet said she thinks her eyes water because her tear ducts don't drain internally properly. Makes sense to me considering her whole nose is squished in. Since I will not give her an antibiotic unless her life is at stake, we just deal with the tear stains.
I am sure she will get some lamb at some point, but not like she was before. Right now she eats mostly beef, and some pork. She also gets canned sardines once or twice a week and she goes CRAZY over them. She gets her canned salmon too, but now we try to limit it to once or twice a month.
I am looking for grass fed meat. So far most of what I have found is lamb, so we have to decide how much importance we are going to place on the hot/cold balance. I found a few with beef, but I need to look more.
Eric doesn't cut the pork bone much anymore. She gets pretty good sized chunks. We still do cut her food because I can't stand her taking a big hunk of raw animal out of her bowl and dumping it on the floor to eat it. The baby puts everything into his mouth and I don't like the idea of him dropping somethign on the floor where there was raw meat on it.
Her coat is still amazingly soft and shiny. I use essential oils mixed in sweet almond and argan oil for flea deterrent. I also added the pure argan oil to her shampoo- OMG! What great stuff it is! For mosquitos I use lemon eucalyptus mixed with vodka-it works very well.
That's all I can think of for now- I am so HAPPY you are back!
Cathy and Audrey
would you share that recipe for flea deterrent Cathy? ; )
I hate putting what i think is poison on them.
I make it simple now
I used to add several different essential oils, now I just pick what I feel like smelling the most bewteen cypress oil, cedar oil and peppermint oil.
I think the cedar works best, the cypress smells best, and Audrey likes the peppermint the LEAST, so I only rarely use the peppermint anymore.
I got a small plastic travel bottle with a flip lid, put some sweet almond oil and argan oil in it. The argan oil is expensive, I'd use it alone if it wasn't so much.
Then I add the essential oil til I think it smells strong enough.
I always start by thoroughly flea combing her. She had a few fleas on her at the beginning of this summer, and it took daily combing and every other day or so applying the oil, plus sprinkling DE all around where she sleeps and once on her to get rid of them. The most I found on her at once was 6 or 7. That's when we declared war on fleas and sprinkled her with de! She gets a bath within a day or 2 of being sprinkled with de, and a apple cider vinegar rinse.
I only had to do that once so far. I still flea comb her at least every other day. It took probably 2 months before I didn't see any flea poops on her or in the bed in the am. For us, that's the biggest flea problem we've had in years. The cat is the one that brought them in. Now he stays outside, I can't deal with his peeing in the house and ripping into any food in the kitchen he can see.
I won't use the chemical pesticides on her.
Cathy and Audrey
Wow, Cathy, what a great post!
What are the cooling herbs you give her?
Kofi get's so excited around Skyler. It's only when his mom brings him up here to see us, and is holding him that she goes bonkers. He's already a year old now, so I'm sure when he's a little bigger it will get better, and his mom will relax more too.
She loves children and is very gentle, but I haven't succeeded in getting my granddaughter to realize this.
Audrey is NOT gentle with the baby, she growls at him
She loved him at first, well at least she was very interested in him at first. Then he got noisier and more mobile and he made her very nervous.
The erratic and completely unpredicatble movements, coupled with the strange sounds, freaked her out. As long as she was able to get away from him, she would choose to do that. It is when she is cornered that she has a REAL problem. And Miles STARES at her, direct unwavering eye contact WHILE he is toddling up to her.He tucks his chin to his chest with his forehead down and stares right into her eyes. Audrey can not deal with that.
She WILL growl at him if he approaches her and she feels cornered. She resource guards me and her area right around my desk where I sit at my computer. If I have food while sitting at my desk it is the worst. One time I was eating and she was sitting next to me and Miles came through the gate and Audrey pushed him, used her head like a bulldozer and just shoved him back away from me and her.
He can hit her in the face or take her toys, right out of her mouth! She gives him her ball so he can throw it for her. She usually just leaves and goes to her room when she's had enough. I hired a dog trainer and she showed me the signs to look for that Audrey was getting agitated, things I never would have associated with it. Like yawning. Open mouth vs closed mouth. Her eyes, which now that I am used to looking for it I can tell right away when she is starting to get that "that kid's bugging me" look.
We never EVER let the 2 of them get into touching range of each other without somone right there with their hands on either Audrey or Miles. We give Miles treats so he can feed them to her, and we make her 'give' her toys to us, Miles gets to hold it first, and he gives it to her when he is ready to. Since we are all home all day everyday, Audrey has her 'quiet times' in the bedroom. Sometimes I leave in there for a few hours. If she shows a single sign of agitation, she is put in her bedroom also. If she goes in her crate,(it is always voluntary) Miles is not allowed to touch her. Every once in a while if she is in her crate I will bring Miles into the room, I will hold him and we will go to the door, and talk to Audrey for a second. Tell her she's a good girl, I'll pet her and let Miles put his hand inside for a moment and then we leave. I want her to know that when she's in her crate she doesn't have to get prickly if Miles comes in the room. He may go near her but he's not getting in her space and bugging her.
Now that Miles is a VERY proficient walker and starting to get really good at running, he is more interested in petting and hugging her. She is used to his movements now and she has a MUCH much greater tolerance for him. I dont; know if it was the herbs or he is older or a combo of both, but it is a GREAT thing anyways.
When he approaches to pet her, we make sure to give her treats and treat her like she just flew to the moon and back when she lets him pet her and touch her ears and even put his face on her sides and hug her. He has a very healthy respect for her, and he is gentle as a 14 month old can be.
I used to get so sad, Audrey is certainly not that calm easy going dog the baby can climb all over. Hannah tried a few times to say "if that dog ever bites my baby I'll kill her!"...it is hard to change that mentality. We just have to tell her all day every single day that if Audrey bites Miles it would be because someone FAILED so badley to be responsible.
Audrey is a DOG. Period. They claim that by me loving her like I do my kids, and pampering her and spoiling her with toys and expensive lamb that I am humanizing her, but I am NOT. Them(my kids) expecting her to have a deep comprehension of infant human motives, and to have the ability to stop and think a few steps ahead is humanizing her.
She is a DOG with a dogs' emotions and feelings, and surprise surprise they are not all happy wonderful lovey feelings. Sometimes she gets annoyed, or agitated, or even crabby. And she can ONLY ACT like a DOG. REACT like a dog. Communicate like a dog. That is not a bad thing in any way. That is not something that needs to be changed, or 'worked on". We just have to learn to understand her ways of communicating and respect her right as a living being to be able to express how she feels.
Think about it-humans 'growl' at each other all the time. Humans get cranky and crabby and fight and yell and lots of times hit each other. We expect our dogs to try very hard to understand US, what we want from them, to comprehend OUR language enough to obey our commands. Audrey has made me realize that I have to do the same for her.
Sorry, I didn't mean for this to be a book! It's just an issue I have been struggling with for such a long time now-and so many people simply think a dog that growls at a baby is an abnormal, viscious dog. That is just not true!
Cathy and Audrey
I enjoyed reading the experiences
you are having with Audrey and Miles.
If Skyler was living with us, I'm sure it would be very different. They live across the patio, so he comes up a few times a week.
I think if Lacey had of been calm enough to just let Kofi check him out from the beginning, things would have been very different. She's excited to see him, and when she can't get close enough, she argues by trying to push her way in.
He's just over a year, and still a little unsteady in his walking. I think as he gets just a little older, Lacey may relax some. It bothers her when Kofi gets close enough to lick........Kofi thinks he's a giant lollypop.
Anyway, this is Kofi's house, she's willing to share her space and hopefully her love will be welcome as Sky guy gets a little older. I just hope he's not going to be afraid of her because of his parents uneasiness.
Sigh....all our guys will just have to learn how to give and take....Hugs to yours from Koph and me
I had to laugh
at the giant lollipop! Yes babies are DELICIOUS!
One of the things the trainer told us was to always associate the baby with wonderful things to Audrey. She had a special toy that she ONLY got when Miles came into the room. When Miles left, the toy was put away. When Miles pets her, she gets bananas or cheese. Miles plays ball with her.
We had to limit the amount of time they were in the same room together to TRY to make the time all positive. We would take one of them out while Audrey was still fairly comfortable. We could always tell when we let it go too long, and sometimes it would set us back and we'd have to be extra careful and work even harder at it for a few days to make up for it.
That is too bad that Lacey is nervous around Kofi and Skyler. Kofi certainly can tell that she is nervous! I had to get on Hannah and Miles' dad especially, when Miles was a newborn baby to just relax and NOT push Audrey away. I told them you are TRAINING Audrey to distrust and dislike the baby. You don't want to create a situation where every time the dog sees the baby the dog dreads it beacuse she knows she will get yelled at or pushed away or it is just going to be an unpleasant experience for the dog.
Good grief can you imagine what Audrey would have been like when Miles started crawling if they HAD continued to try to keep her away from the baby from the time he was born? I can't imagine it actually being harder than it is.
Cathy and Audrey
congratulations
It seems you have a very good grip on dog/kid interactions! I'm pleased you are seeing the baby from your dog's point of view and managing their time together for the benefit of all involved.
So many people have an unrealistic vision of every dog being that Golden who lets kids climb all over them and only wants more abuse - so far from a true, safe and healthy situation. Every dog has a right to not be pestered by children, every kid has a right to be taught how to behave around dogs.
It has been a challenge!
At first I was really upset. It IS stressful to have to be so careful! But I think it is getting better and someday they will be great friends with a lot of respect for each other.
That stigma is difficult, people do think that ALL dogs should silently take whatever a child feels like doing to it. Or that if a dog growls at a baby that means they will CERTAINLY be plotting to chew off one of it's limbs as soon as they have a chance to.
My husband had a real hard time with it. He kept saying "Audrey would NEVER bite the baby!" And I kept telling him she is a DOG. She has limited options and WILL bite if all her warnings are ignored. That was tough for him, Audrey is his little Princess and he had a difficult time wrapping his mind around his little Princess not being perfect. I did too! It's like saying she's a BAD DOG. But she's not a bad dog-she's just a dog.
Cathy and Audrey
You've done a great job
with her. So many people would have just given up and gotten rid of the dog. It is a learning experience for both the baby and the dog and Miles will have a much better appreciation, understanding and insight into dogs for all you are doing with raising the 2 of them together.
Kudos to you!
Thanks Deb!
It is very stressful sometimes, but I would cut off my leg and give it away before I gave Audrey away. She is family and you just don't abandon family!
It really does seem to be getting better! Audrey now voluntarily brings him her ball so he'll throw it for her, and she can be in the same room with him now for much much longer without getting so agitated and strung-out. She leaves on her own more frequently to go lay down in a quiet spot, instead of us having to take her out every single time.
She still guards her spot around me, and we don't even attempt to have them in the same room when there's food involved, especially her food.
Cathy and Audrey
cooling herbs and calming herbs
Can you tell me more about these herbs and what you are actually using. I would be very interested for Kohl. He is a wild man and gets so excited around people that anything that is calming would be great.
I got them from the holistic/TCM vet
The calming herbs aren't labeled, the vet mixed them herself so I don't know exactly what's in them.
The cooling herbs ARE labeled, but I do NOT know how to tell if the dog is too hot or too cold. The vet checked her pulses, her tongue, and something else, it was all so new and different to me I don't know the whole process.
Audrey IS absolutely more comfortable and relaxed and happy around the baby since she started taking them. I am very happy!
Cathy and Audrey
Hey Judy!
It's so great to see you!
Kofi has been on raw for a year now. She's doing great. She's an old pro now and chews the bones much better, no gulping anymore.
I gradually have switched to PMR, and it's so natural and simple for us.
How are you and all your guys doing?
the only way is up
its been a staggering year.....but i will say all the bulls kept me going.....but i had to make some drastic finical cuts to get us thru...and the computer and cable were the first cuts....but things are not exactly smooth but their going up hill......
Crazy economy
for sure, hope things get better for you soon.
Hi raw feeders and Judy nice
Hi raw feeders and Judy nice to meet you after hearing so much about you. i have two bullies now on raw, Duke has been on raw now for 6 months, started the day we brought him home when he was eight weeks, and he is doing great on itm he loves everything. Vito is a 1yr old that we adopted around 2 1/2 months ago and he's been eating raw now since we brought him home and he has made a great transition to raw also. We also are trying to be a natural as possible, without giving anu chemicals to the dogs. Glad to have you back.
I have a question
My guys love rabbit. My uncle has a ranch and traps rabbits because they destroy his crops. He use to just kill them and toss, he now gives them to me after cleaning them up. Is it better to leave them whole or have them cleaned of all fur and insides? He gets tired of cleaning them because he gets up to 15 at a time.
Maggie
Audrey LOVES rabbit!
I buy mine skinned and quartered though, with the organs(no intestines) in a baggy. I get them frozen and feed her one quarter at a time. It is my only exception to the cut up her food rule, because they are pretty small pieces and she seems to keep them in her bowl.
I know lots of people that feed whole rabbits. My concern would be parasites in a wild animal, and I would definitely freeze them first.
Cathy and Audrey
I freez them for 4 weeks
I'm just afraid my uncle will get tired of cleaning them and stop giving them to me. I offered to pay him for them but he won't take any money. I have had up to 20 rabbits in my freezer at one time.
Maggie
ooops that's freeze
I missed the last "e"
I can see him getting tired of cleaning them
EEWWW! Would you do it, so he didn't have to?
Either way, as long as you are freezing them to kill any parasites, cleaned or not they are still a great meal for the dogs!
Cathy and Audrey
just skin them leave head and legs
just remember thats alot of bone....watch those stools...you dont want them getting white.....one whole rabbit is all i feed once a week...i just started to raised some really nice meat bunnies...i tried feeding small whole baby bunnies 6 wks...but the dogs just ran around the yard playing with them.....so as said freeze for 2 weeks min...wild rabbits have really bad worms....and i am sure no chemicals used??? to kill these bunnies....
no chemicals
He snaps their necks then cuts it off and skins and guts them. Oh yes, he also cuts of the feet. I freeze them for 4 weeks just to be sure. I don't feed the leg bones because they seem to hard. They get rabbit one or twice a week.
Maggie
legs are great.....
its one reason i am starting to raise my own...2 turn into 20 in weeks (hehehe) and their great for allergy dogs...and their is no waste....my friend skins mine for me....we split the skins and i get 30 dollars at my grooming shop for them!!!!!! rabbits have become my best friends......