she has only been on frozen raw patties for a month, but I wanted to make sure her teeth weren't getting dirtier too when we switched her. We still brush her teeth, and so far they've been super clean. Her breath is good too. The frozen patties aren't bad at all to feed her. I guess if you really think about it it could be gross, but then again kibble isn't all that appealing either. The freeze dried food looks like it's very nutritious, is that what you mean by dehydrated? I'm not familiar with SOJO, but we got some freeze dried food for Audrey for training treats. She LOVES it, but it's so expensive I wouldn't feed it as her main meals, I'd rather spend the money on raw. I don't give Audrey raw meaty bones, I still have a bone-a-phobia that she will get splinters in her intestines, or a blockage. I think the rope toys really help, we got one that has strands of dental floss-type stuff in it.

Cathy
when she first came home

Twister will be 7 months on 1/18 - he's been on raw before, but I hated feeding it - way too gross for me - but he totally loved it and did just fine...I'm thinking about going the medallion & kibble route or medallion and SOJO's route for something different - SOJO's has an all inclusive dehydrated food, but then I wondered about him not having crunchy, although I also give him raw meaty bones to knaw on, so I suppose he'd get his teeth worked on by that - he also eats toys too....so that would help

but I was questioning that myself. I do know we have been watching Audrey's teeth for changes after switching to raw and so far the kibble fed dogs (my other 2) definitely have more gunk on their teeth. Audrey likes to chew on nylabones and she really loves her rope toys, so I think that helps clean teeth also. I have my other 2 on TOTW kibble mixed with canned and their teeth always have food stuck in them after they eat, Audrey on raw never does. I think it's because with the texture and consistancy of the raw food there isn't anything to get stuck in her teeth.

Cathy
when she first came home

do you worry about your dogs not having "solid" crunchy food? or do you give them something that is? I just wonder about them not having something to crunch vs. all that soft - some say it's actually the kibble that causes plaque and not canned or soft but I wonder if only soft food is good for the teeth, especially on young pups?

I know, I over analysis stuff! LOL

that are frozen. I get them at the same store I get my raw food from. I believe they are 6 or 8 to a package. Most specialty food stores will have them in the freezers. Mine like the ones that are about 3 inches long. I give these to them regularly and my dogs are big chewers. It helps to keep the teeth clean and strong and the gums good.

..

it was from the raw advantage site. I know I read somewhere that you shouldn't mix raw and kibble together because they digest each one so differently, but this gave some good info about building up the enzymes tomake it work:


To get the maximum benefit from a 50/50 Raw to Kibble or Caned, it is best to fully transition and feed a 100% Raw diet for 1 month per 2 years of you companion. See Start up for dogs in the FEEDING GUIDELINES, for how to transition successfully.

You can then easily back up and re-introduce 50% of the premium Kibble that youve selected for your furry four -legged companion. The reason for this is to get the proper enzyme production and healthy live bacteria in motion. This is because the digestion of RAW not only utilizes the nutrients more efficiently; different enzyme production is needed for proper digestion. By Transitioning to RAW and getting all the systems of your pets digestion back to nature, it then can function well as a Scavenger Carnivore and the rotation of Kibble and Raw is almost optimal.



Cathy
when she first came home

feed a little kibble (3/4 cup) in the am. Sometimes with a quarter pattie of raw mixed in and sometimes just kibble.

They get a full pattie each at night with yogurt and joint supplements.

my understanading is it is more expensive then the Natures Variety. But all in all they are very similar pre packaged Raw foods.

to use Natures Variety get the patties. The medallions are way more expensive.

I feed it and love it. Do feed some kind of probiotic with it. I had some constipation problems with MacKenzie on the Venison. I switch between chicken, Venison and Beef. The others like rabbit are more expensive.

there are also dehydrated raw foods...one I like is SOJO, I bought a bag of the fruit/veggie flakes tonight to add to Dixie's kibble

here is the web link - they have a complete one with protein already in it
http://www.sojos.com/complete.html

- I also like Rottie's idea of the medallions with their kibble

I was thinking if I did switch I would mix it with the kibble as well

But I mix the medallions with moistened NV Instinct kibble. The kibble has a raw bio-coating, and the dogs love it (plus, I'd go broke if I just fed the medallions...lol).

Olivia/Kano/Q-Ball

I tried charlie on all of the raw pattys..then tried urban wolfe mix with raw food,,then tried urban wolfe mix with cooked food..
ALL rejected..
I have never met a picky bulldog before.
I am trying my best to keep him on his kibble..I am a crazy mom who changes his diet too much thinking I will find something better.
Not good for charlie.


I WANT COOKIES

everything under the sun. I thought we had a winner here with the NB venison ate it great for about a month and just like usual one day just stopped

with Bella here..
she is very very active and dropped 6 pounds and then I had an issue of keeping on her weight..she was not fond of the kibble either that much
the vet suggested to just add a bit of moist to her food
and wow now she eats very well...

if you haven't seen it yet search the raw diet diaries on the medical board. I love the way Audrey looks on it, and she loves the way it tastes.

Cathy
when she first came home

to explore options. Stan just really has no interest in kibble so it is tough to put weight on him

for Lily & rocky, I am not ready for raw yet, maybe never, good luck