switching duge to raw

Postby kera09 » August 3rd, 2009, 11:24 pm

Where do i begin....Duge is 3 yrs old and had been battling skin issues for almost 2 yrs....no one can tell us whats wrong with him!!!! hes been to numerous vets for numerous testing and even went to a specialist...he did not have allergy testing but they said food was pretty much out of the picture...they were thinking its enviromental. I clean all natural and use basically vinegar on everything!!! i am switching to a hypo-allergenic laundry soap for the bedding. It may also be the cat, duges face is stuck up her booty often.

While doing research on raw ive finally decided to try it...hoping and praying it will help him. The only thing im worried about is the bacteria in the meat...they say when a dogs immune system is low it may be harmful. He often itches so bad he has to be on antibiotics for staph infections! My girls will be jealous he gets the good stuff but they get high quality food...who knows i may switch everyone at some point.

What i need to know is exaclty what i need to start this...i want him to get all the nutrients he needs. how much to feed him?? he is 73 lbs. Where in the rochester area to get the best deals? do i need supplements? There is so much info out there but i trust you all and would rather hear it from u guys.

Duge thanks you in advance!!!
duge, ava, lulu and martini's momma :)
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kera09
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Postby mnp13 » August 3rd, 2009, 11:37 pm

we are members of the WNYraw yahoo group, and get raw for about .30 a pound.

We supplement with Missinglink and Acidopholis primarily. We also do periodic "vegetable only" days.

It costs us about $75 a month to feed three 50 pound dogs, you can definitely do it if you want to.
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Inside me is a thin woman trying to get out. I usually shut the bitch up with a martini.
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Postby kera09 » August 4th, 2009, 11:21 am

i guess i need to know exactly what a day of food would consist of...what meat, eggs? veggies? there is sooo much info out there i cant think straight lol. Also right now they all get fed once a day, but large bowls! everyone is a good wieght. Duge could stand to gain a few lbs. so with raw can u feed just once a day? Also should i mix raw with his kibble to start getting him used to it?
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Postby TinaMartin » August 4th, 2009, 11:38 am

Keep kibble and raw separate they digest at different rates. Start with one protein source. Most people start with chicken. Look into the raw food group the Michelle is talking about. It is much cheaper than going to the store.
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Postby mnp13 » August 4th, 2009, 11:38 am

We feed once a day, and when we switched to raw we ran out of kibble on Tuesday and fed them meat on Wednesday. We didn't have any major issues except some constipation because we weren't feeding enough bone.

The first time we tried raw with Connor he ended up with demodex mange, but he doesn't have the best immune system to start with so we don't blame the raw for that.

Now that we grind everything, we make up one pound bags of ground meat and bone, a table spoon of Missing Link and a 1/4 cup of Total cereal. We give vegetables every so often, and that meal is only vegetables. We don't fast the dogs.

After Riggs' kibble disaster last spring you couldn't convince me to put a bowl of kibble in front of any dog I ever own again. Not to say that kibble is "bad", but I am never gonna feed it again - to the dogs anyway, my cats flatly refuse to eat raw no matter how hard I try.
Michelle

Inside me is a thin woman trying to get out. I usually shut the bitch up with a martini.
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Postby kera09 » August 4th, 2009, 12:01 pm

ok thanks! duge doesnt have the best immune system either :( if this works out for him, my girls will switched also. Im thinking about starting him next week.
duge, ava, lulu and martini's momma :)
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