Raw Diet (BARF)

[Scoop]

How many of you feed a raw diet to your pets? If you do what are the pros and cons? I have been doing hours of research on this and may change my 3 dogs and a cat over.

Scoop

[diamienono]

My Am. Staff won't eat anything raw except marrow bones. There for, she gets cooked ground meat and pasta.

[Helly]

I tried it briefly with Oli. Made him sick (vomitting/diarrhea), his hair fell out, and he developed a terrible staph infection. Put him back on the fish based food, his skin cleared up, his hair grew back, and no more tummy trouble.

[jbates]

Skansen Kennels AKC STSchnauzer and mini feed raw chicken and won't guarantee pup if ya switch. They have some big winners in the ring. I would not do it. Always have to have on hand. How yucky would the beards be. I kissie face my girl boys teeth a bit icky at iiyrs. not so many kisses allowed now.ITJBs your call. Vet Question?JJB

[jbates]

Another thought, another Schnauzer story. Fritz, Ablack mini Schn. I groomed past Sat. was going nuts a few yrs back nearly chewing his toes off itching. Owner saw vets pills, shots, no help. I Knew him awhile befoe it started. Don't know diet hist. She put him on fish and potato. Baked Pot chip treats no other foods. He is perfect for all these 3 yrs,and Rocky the G> RET benefits too.

[Poodlefluff]

I've seen the dogs that had been fed a raw diet for years and they don't appear to be any more healthier than a dog fed dog food. Now I did see 2 litters of poodle puppies both about the same age one was fed Iams puupy food -a good premium dog food, the others were fed Solid Gold Wolf Cub. The pups that ate wolf cub were twice as big and solid and coat felt better. The pups that ate Iams were skinnier and had shorter hair. Both were healthy puppies but I was amazed at the difference in condition the pups were in. But it is expensive, about $40 a 20lb bag

[Gracy Rose]

Barf

I supplement my dogs diet with raw but don't give it strictly. My main reason were because of convenience.

[Rubydog]

I feed raw.

I've been feeding my dogs a raw diet their entire lives. Ruby is an Aussie/pointer/? mix 5 years old and Sparky is a 4 year old Rat Terrier.

I like that I know exactly what they're eating. Everything they eat is fit for human consumption. There are no grains, no fillers, no preservatives, no coloring.

Neither dog has ever had any health issues.

When I got Ruby my sister was raw feeding her dog so I did have her to ask questions. I also got Kymythy Schultz' book Natural Nutrition for Dogs and Cats the Ultimate Diet (at www.dogwise.com). I also joined the "rawfeeding" group at www.yahoogroups.com. I found everyone really helpful. You read what everyone has to say, filter for yourself what works for you, and go from there....every one question has at least a dozen right answers sometimes!

I will admit to having a small extra freezer in my garage so that I can buy chicken backs or whatever in bulk.

I don't see any downsides to rawfeeding. It just makes sense to me.

[Scoop]

Well everything I have read says they don't need veggies/fruits, but mine love carrots raw or cooked, green beans raw or cooked, apples raw, watermelon, cantalope, one will eat raw potatoes, they love pumpkin. When I cook their veggies I serve it with the juice. Of course they will ALL eat meat, but it is always cooked. Something about raw chicken/fish just grosses me out. They also get eggs, sometimes raw sometimes cooked. I do give them raw bones. I always mix a little dry kibble. Right now they eat Natuarl Balance duck & potato. I go back and forth with Natural Balance products. They also like IAMS (green bag). I have people ask me what I feed and they are always amazed that I switch their dry kibble around so much. They have never had any problems with GI upset, and they seem to eat better when it is mixed around. Plus of course they get a VARIETY of other stuff too. (Maybe that is why they don't have any GI problems). They are all in good health, have good teeth, and are not over weight. "Lucky" our Sheltie has now lost 24lbs. We have had him for a year. He looks GREAT!!! He was SOOO FAT is was just SICK. Not anymore he is a lean mean playin' machine.

The cat eats all of the above too. Sits right there with the dogs and eats her supper. She always has. Then again she thinks she is a dog. She is the only one who could lose a few pounds.

I was just curious to what you all fed, I may just keep doing what I have been doing. Maybe add in some raw meat.

Thanks all,

Scoop

[pamperedpups]

I know the question was "who does," but I thought I'd chime in as one who DOESN'T feed raw (although my dogs do enjoy the occasional raw or cooked meaty treat). Feeding raw every day just doesn't work with my schedule, traveling, etc. If you're like me, I suggest you look into Innova EVO, the raw kibble diet. Just keep in mind that the reason products like Innova, Wellness, Solid Gold, etc. aren't "cheap" is because you are paying for (often human grade) REAL MEAT and other healthy-for-your-dog ingredients, without all of the cheap fillers and questionable stuff.

[jovi]

My Coton de Tulear is on a vegetarian diet, not a raw diet. He was itching and biting himself so bad and nothing was helping to remedy it. After hundreds of dollars later we found out he was allergic to by products in several dog foods. So we went vegetarian and he is thriving. His coat is thick and fluffy and his tear stains went away!

[Helly]

Well, I think there's a couple of downsides to feeding raw. For one thing it's purely inconvenient. For another thing, there's the potential risk of exposing your dog, yourself, and your family to a plethora of disease causing organisms.

Please don't tell me that dogs are not susceptible to salmonella, because I know this is not true. I also know that dogs are susceptible to campylobacter, as are people.

If someone prefers to feed raw, more power to them. But I think people who are considering it should be aware that there are risks and inconveniences involved. Denying the risks does not make them go away.

[shrek]

My g.s. was purchased from Skansen Kennels and yes she asks you to keep them on the raw meat diet. Shrek is now 2 1/2 years old doing great. Weighs about 125 lbs, beautiful black coat, no health problems. He eats all his meats raw. The liver I cook just a little, cause the blood gets to be a little much. Raw chicken necks, legs, backs, livers, turkey backs, necks, liver, venision, hamburg, cheaper steaks, eggs,sardines,he loves all frozed vegetables. In the summer he lays by the garden and waits for fresh produce(sometimes he goes in and helps himself). He really doesn't like mashed potatoes but will eat fried potatoes, french fries, sweet potatoes, you name it, he'll try it. Daily pet tabs. You are suppose to give him more vitamins, but we don't. Skansen Kennels has a great web site and I'm sure you can find out more about the diet.

[milhasavilla]

I know a breeder who swears by the raw diet! She has a freezer full of meat just for her dogs. But she also says it's not for every dog, but most of the larger canines benefit from it. She raises shephards - I have no idea however...She makes lots of good points, but it's the whole convenience thing for me too. Plus I'm scared of raw meat - just seems to go well together with vomit/diaharhea - in my mind anyway. But it does work for alot of people. Just a personal decision I think...

[Chicken]

I feed my 4 nothing but raw. My eldest basset was a horrible mess on even super premium kibble, hair falling out, ear infections, eye & skin infections, a MESS. Nothing helped until I changed his diet; turns out he is totally grain intolerant. So all 4 are on raw and I will never consider feeding anything but at this point, I'm so pleased with it.

But it's not for everyone, certainly. It takes a lot of research, dedication, and a fabulous vet always helps!

Now my cats, no way. That's just way too hard when you have multiple cats & have to make sure everyone is eating. They're on Solid Gold.