smoore
Ratastic
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| 04/19/2007 5:42 PM |
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| Has anyone heard about this? I was thinking of starting my dogs on this. What do you all think? |
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-Sara
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bratt
Firehouse Big Dog
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| 04/19/2007 6:42 PM |
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| I'm not familiar. I think Nora is starting her dogs on a raw diet, may be this one......not sure. |
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Debra~KSSM Queen II
Savanna~Princess Easy Street
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smoore
Ratastic
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| 04/20/2007 10:47 AM |
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| Nora, have you heard about this? |
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-Sara
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rattytatty
Newbie
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| 04/20/2007 10:49 AM |
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| Yes... I feed it in addition to the Nature's Variety Salmon & Brown Rice kibble. My dogs absolutely LOVE it... and talk about HEALTHY !!! When I get a pattie out, my dogs go NUTS !! |
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Mitzy's Mom
PAWesome
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| 04/20/2007 10:49 AM |
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| Is this frozen raw meat that you get and feed? |
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Mary Beth, mom to the Lollipop Kids
Georgia Foster Mom, www.newrattitude.org
Pics of my current fosters:
http://imageevent.com/newrattitude/caradoc
http://imageevent.com/newrattitude/willow
http://imageevent.com/newrattitude/fiona
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rattytatty
Newbie
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| 04/20/2007 10:50 AM |
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| I feed the chicken and the beef... it comes in packages of 12... I separate them into ziplock bags. Each dog gets 1/4 of a pattie... put it in the frig in the morning and by the time I get ready to feed at night, they are perfect! |
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rattytatty
Newbie
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| 04/20/2007 10:51 AM |
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| Mary Beth, it's 95% meat and 5% vegetables.... it's absolutely, tee-totally natural. AND it's ALL made in the United States! YEAHHHH !!! |
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rattytatty
Newbie
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| 04/20/2007 10:52 AM |
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Here's their website...explaining all the benefits of the raw food.
http://naturesvariety.com/content.lasso?page=1217
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smoore
Ratastic
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| 04/20/2007 10:58 AM |
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| So, do you feed them dry food in the morning and the raw at night? My dogs are starting to gain a little weight as they get older and since they got spayed and nuetered and I just thought something more natural would help them trim down. Plus I am sure it about as healthy as you can get. How did you do the transition with starting the new raw food diet? I am pretty sure I am going to start it really soon. |
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-Sara
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rattytatty
Newbie
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| 04/20/2007 11:03 AM |
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I do not feed my dogs in the morning, and I do not free feed (personal choice....) I feed them only at night. My 3 older dogs get 3/4 cup of kibble at night (the Nature's Variety Salmon & Brown Rice) and Bailey gets one cup of the kibble. The next night I feed the raw ... each dog gets 1/4 of a pattie (they are fairly big and an inch thick). They love the raw much better, but I think it's good to rotate, and Nature's Variety and most of my agility friends recommend rotating also. I've been feeding the kibble for several months. Just last week started the raw. There was not really a transition as such because the dogs were so absolutely crazy about it! I just started doing it. It's going to work well.
I also add the Missing Link Plus to the three older dogs' food... plus I put fish oil in my little dachshunds food (put a pin in a fish oil caplet and squeeze the oil onto the food. It stinks, but she sure does like it!) Between the Omega 3's in the salmon kibble.. and the Missing Link and the fish oil... all the coats on my dogs are in really superb condition.
Bailey doesn't get the Missing Link or the fish oil. He just gets a little more food than the others, and TONS of treats when we train.... but he's much more active than the others too!
Good luck with this, Sara! I think you'll find your dogs love the kibble OR the raw food !
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smoore
Ratastic
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| 04/20/2007 11:07 AM |
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| I free feed at the moment, and it isn't working out well for me. Rambo gained 2 pounds!!! Which is 20 % of his body weight since he only weighed 8 pounds before he got neutered. Plus Buffy needs to loose about 6 oz as well. Free feeding was probably ok when they were puppies, but not so much anymore. I am excited to start trying what you have mentioned. Thanks so much! |
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-Sara
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JenMax
Firehouse Big Dog
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| 04/20/2007 11:10 AM |
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Thanks for the information Nora. I'm sure Max would love it . He eats almost anything.
Good luck Sara. I just love little Rambo and Buffy . I can't wait to see Emma! |
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Jenny - Max's sister
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rattytatty
Newbie
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| 04/20/2007 11:13 AM |
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Personal opinion... and tried and true through the years for me..... but free feeding is not something most trainers recommend and there's a reason for it. I just think it's better to control a dog's diet.
Too much food and too little activity have the same effect on a dog's body that it has on humans. Pet obesity is becoming as much of an epidemic as human obesity is! (all due to our lifestyles) Letting an animal eat all he wants isn't a good plan if you want to keep him trim -- and you should!
Also, pets can't tell you with words when they're not feeling well, but they will tell you in behavior -- if you're paying attention. Appetite is one of the key measures of well-being, and free-feeding denies you the ability to observe this crucial indicator.
Also, food is one of the most powerful tools you have when it comes to training your dog, and if your pet eats when and how he chooses, you've lost that edge. Some experts go so far as to suggest that at least in the beginning a dog should work for every morsel of food, using daily rations as part of a training program. (This also helps with weight-control, since dogs who eat full meals and then get treats in training are getting more calories than they need.) I don't necessarily agree with that... just saying many trainers do.
Many people disagree with me and that's certainly their right. I'm just saying these are the main reasons I don't free feed.
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rattytatty
Newbie
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| 04/20/2007 11:15 AM |
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| I'd be so much better off if I had someone to ration my food for me !!! OMG -- it would be so much easier! As it is... all my "free feeding" through the years has taken its toll on me. I should have taken my OWN advice about free feeding as it relates to myself. haha |
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JenMax
Firehouse Big Dog
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| 04/20/2007 11:17 AM |
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| I know that Max would eat and eat. He is always looking for food on walks and everything. It's like we're starving him. Silly boy. Maybe he had to search for scraps in his former life. Never know. |
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Jenny - Max's sister
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smoore
Ratastic
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| 04/20/2007 11:20 AM |
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| They get a lot of daily exercise, so hopefully this will be the key to helping them slim down. I want my dogs to live for 20 yrs! I will let you all know how it works out. |
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-Sara
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Ski
Ratastic
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| 04/20/2007 11:23 AM |
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| I've heard the pre-packaged raw food is expensive but very healthy. Do you still give them raw chicken wings? I finally found raw beef knuckle bones at the third grocery store I went to. My dogs went absolutely crazy for them and they were two for a little over a dollar. Oscar was hilarious, the bone was as big as his head, yet he worked feverishly on it. Lucky sat in the back yard for 4 straight hours until I took the bone away from him. |
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rattytatty
Newbie
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| 04/20/2007 11:33 AM |
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| I quit giving raw chicken wings now that I'm rotating the kibble with the raw food from Nature's Variety... no need to do it anymore. I think any time we can feed raw, it's more healthy. But you are right... it's expensive. $20 for 12 patties.. and $42 for a 30-lb bag of the kibble. But, I think it's well worth it... my vet agrees. |
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swatson6
Attention Starved
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| 04/20/2007 11:43 AM |
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Posted By rattytatty on 04/20/2007 11:15 AM
I'd be so much better off if I had someone to ration my food for me !!! OMG -- it would be so much easier! As it is... all my "free feeding" through the years has taken its toll on me. I should have taken my OWN advice about free feeding as it relates to myself. haha LOL! me too, but then someone might end up hurt  
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Sarah
Mom to Jack, Jeter and foster mom to Teagan
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mario07
Bratty Ratty
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| 04/20/2007 12:02 PM |
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Wow, this is really interesting. Okay, I need to make some changes. I free feed Mario but he doesn't really eat that much. I give him 1/4 dry Nutro Max in the morning and another 1/4 cup in the evening. He usually just eats several times a day and there seems to always be leftovers. (I do want to switch to Canidae once this bag is gone though)
Nora, why do you only feed once a day and in the evening? I've never heard of doing that... I'm asking because I'm interested (not because I disagree). And, also...I always thought raw foods could make a dog sick. My thinking is that people need meat cooked to kill any bacteria, etc.. Not the same for dogs?
Boy, I'm getting an education on this thread!  |
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~~Shannon, Mario and Pepper's mom!~~
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swatson6
Attention Starved
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| 04/20/2007 12:07 PM |
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| I did read that most dogs are capable of tolerating things like e coli and salmonella, but they can still shed thes organisms, which in turn could effect anone (like kids) who comes into contact with that soils etc. These foods I am assuming don't have this though right? It looks very good, but pricey. Jack still eats 3 times a day, when can I drop him to 2? he's 5 months. |
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Sarah
Mom to Jack, Jeter and foster mom to Teagan
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JenMax
Firehouse Big Dog
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| 04/20/2007 12:07 PM |
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Max eats 3 times per day, plus extra "treats" whenever he can get them and for tricks.
But he is older and has the liver problem. More small meals are supposed to be better. |
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Jenny - Max's sister
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JenMax
Firehouse Big Dog
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| 04/20/2007 12:08 PM |
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Not to change the subject but HOW IS JACK? Is he still having seizures? |
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Jenny - Max's sister
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swatson6
Attention Starved
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| 04/20/2007 12:20 PM |
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| They're not really seizures I don't think. Not sure. He's been okay though, some days more than others. He goes to the vet today for vaccinations etc. so she (his vet) said we would discuss it more then. We may just have to "sit on it" and see as the next steps would cost me lots of $$!! Thanks for asking : ) |
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Sarah
Mom to Jack, Jeter and foster mom to Teagan
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JenMax
Firehouse Big Dog
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| 04/20/2007 12:21 PM |
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| As long as he is doing okay. He is so cute. I love the pictures you posted yesterday. |
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Jenny - Max's sister
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swatson6
Attention Starved
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| 04/20/2007 12:26 PM |
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Thanks! We just love him to death! Would say he's the most spoiled rattie ever but there are a lot of those around here |
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Sarah
Mom to Jack, Jeter and foster mom to Teagan
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Ski
Ratastic
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| 04/20/2007 12:42 PM |
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Posted By swatson6 on 04/20/2007 12:20 PM
They're not really seizures I don't think. Not sure. He's been okay though, some days more than others. He goes to the vet today for vaccinations etc. so she (his vet) said we would discuss it more then. We may just have to "sit on it" and see as the next steps would cost me lots of $$!! Thanks for asking : ) Good luck on the vax. Please keep a close eye on him afterwards, for signs of allergic reactions. Is he getting all shots at once? Lucky got his rabies shot the other day and the vet surprised me by recommending spreading vax over 3 years. (rabies now, distemper next year, hepatitis in 2 years, etc) It seems most vets are coming around to the idea of not vaxing every year.
If you think it's possible Jack's problems are diet related, you could always get a nutritional consultation, probably for about the cost of a vet visit. For a bit more money, you can get ongoing email support. She's the creator of the dogfoodproject web site. Something to consider too for anyone considering preparing your dogs food yourself (raw or cooked).
http://www.betterdogcare.com/index.html
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swatson6
Attention Starved
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| 04/20/2007 12:48 PM |
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| Thanks Ski!! The shots are the last of his puppy shots and I did note that he hasn't gotten the leptosporosis (thank goodness) and he got his rabies last month. I am going to bring up the 3 year thing, I have an info sheet printed out on it. I guess it could be diet related? He's on canidae, maybe I'll look into that! Thanks for the link. |
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Sarah
Mom to Jack, Jeter and foster mom to Teagan
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Ski
Ratastic
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| 04/20/2007 1:09 PM |
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| Doh! Puppy shots, yeah he needs those. I was thinking Jack was older for some reason. It's good the rabies was separate from the others. I think the new vax guidelines are for dogs that have had all their shots thru their first year.
By diet related, I meant any type of kibble could be the cause and she can provide a healthy diet with the bare minimum of ingredients to try to single out the cause. |
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Susan
Terrier Terror
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| 04/20/2007 8:46 PM |
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| Dogs have antibacterial saliva, so they can get raw food and nasty things without having the results that people have. They also throw up easily if something does not agree with them. Dog evolution 101 |
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ANYTHING WORTH DOING IS WORTH OVERDOING Mom of eight, only three left at home! Pack leader to ten ratties: Maggie, Mysty, Berry, Simon, Ceecee and five puppies, Star,Sari, Bluebelle, Double stuf,and Snortie. As well as Ginger the Border Collie and a herd of turkeys! |
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