We pick our ridgeback pup up in two wks and he is currently on dry food but i keep getting told to switch him raw food from quite a few people now. Whats peoples opinions of raw feeding? It works out a lot more expensive to feed him raw but thats not an issue if it is better for him.
In reply to Post #1
It's definitely better, although it's expensive it's worth it. It may take a while for your dogs stomach to get used to it , sloppy surprises aren't anything unusual when starting the raw diet. The dry is good for their guns and teeth though, it helps keep them clean so make sure he has bones to chew to keep that side of things good. (Not hide though, shouldn't still be on sale as they can't digest it properly )
Also look up tumeric paste, it's very easy to make, dogs tend to love it, and it has some fantastic benefits for their health. Slip a teaspoon of it into a meal
It's definitely better, although it's expensive it's worth it. It may take a while for your dogs stomach to get used to it , sloppy surprises aren't anything unusual when starting the raw diet. The dry is good for their guns and teeth though, it helps keep them clean so make sure he has bones to chew to keep that side of things good. (Not hide though, shouldn't still be on sale as they can't digest it properly )
Also look up tumeric paste, it's very easy to make, dogs tend to love it, and it has some fantastic benefits for their health. Slip a teaspoon of it into a meal
In reply to Post #2
Cheers Ian. Do you put the tumeric in each meal or say once a week? If i do stick with dry, ive been told to use a mixture of millies wolfheart kibble and forthglade wet which suppose to be an excellent alternative to raw and dosent have any nasty preservatives in it. My other issue with raw is the bacteria in the raw food and the pup licking things.
Cheers Ian. Do you put the tumeric in each meal or say once a week? If i do stick with dry, ive been told to use a mixture of millies wolfheart kibble and forthglade wet which suppose to be an excellent alternative to raw and dosent have any nasty preservatives in it. My other issue with raw is the bacteria in the raw food and the pup licking things.
When we looked at this there didn't seem to be a conclusive argument one way or the other. Those that fed raw meat were convinced that they could see a difference in their dogs coats etc but so were those who fed dry. We've stuck with dry on the basis that if you buy a decent one it's formulated to provide what they need and most working dogs seem to be fed this. We do however supplement it with meat occasionally as a treat. If your dog is anything like ours they won't care what you feed them, they just wolf it down whatever.
We do also mix a bit of seaweed powder into her food to try and help keep plaque down. Not sure if it actually works but vet is happy with her teeth so at least it's not making them worse. If you do decide to add this to the feed, don't buy the little pots marketed for dogs just get a big bag off Amazon
We do also mix a bit of seaweed powder into her food to try and help keep plaque down. Not sure if it actually works but vet is happy with her teeth so at least it's not making them worse. If you do decide to add this to the feed, don't buy the little pots marketed for dogs just get a big bag off Amazon
In reply to Post #3
I used to put the paste in every day. Don't have my own dog currently as circumstances prevent it unfortunately. I was told about it by someone when my old mastiff was diagnosed with bladder cancer and I'm convinced that helped him live far longer than expected ( vet said 3 months ,4 max and he went for just short of 11) . My issue with dry food is you never really can be sure what's in them. I know recently there have been a lot of issue with complete cat foods being recalled due to being contaminated, and also there is currently an ongoing issue with a well known brand making people's cats very Ill and they claim to have only removed a colouring from the recipe and that it can't be the food, but people change to another food and their cats pick up again. I know that's cats but it could just as easily be dog food it happens to. The guy who I got my old mastiff from when he was a pup actually found what appeared to be slug pellets in one bag he bought. Lucky it was his usual brand so he noticed the difference before feeding it to his dogs. At least with a fresh diet you know what you are feeding them. Don't worry about Bactria in the raw, there's more chance of you picking up something nasty opening a door at the shop or filling your car with petrol than from your pup's tongue after his food.
I wouldn't dream of feeding a pet a complete dry food anymore
I used to put the paste in every day. Don't have my own dog currently as circumstances prevent it unfortunately. I was told about it by someone when my old mastiff was diagnosed with bladder cancer and I'm convinced that helped him live far longer than expected ( vet said 3 months ,4 max and he went for just short of 11) . My issue with dry food is you never really can be sure what's in them. I know recently there have been a lot of issue with complete cat foods being recalled due to being contaminated, and also there is currently an ongoing issue with a well known brand making people's cats very Ill and they claim to have only removed a colouring from the recipe and that it can't be the food, but people change to another food and their cats pick up again. I know that's cats but it could just as easily be dog food it happens to. The guy who I got my old mastiff from when he was a pup actually found what appeared to be slug pellets in one bag he bought. Lucky it was his usual brand so he noticed the difference before feeding it to his dogs. At least with a fresh diet you know what you are feeding them. Don't worry about Bactria in the raw, there's more chance of you picking up something nasty opening a door at the shop or filling your car with petrol than from your pup's tongue after his food.
I wouldn't dream of feeding a pet a complete dry food anymore
If you do decide to go with dry food then this site is quite useful for comparing the various offerings
All about dog food
We use Skinners mainly because the local feed place carries it and it's VAT free
All about dog food
We use Skinners mainly because the local feed place carries it and it's VAT free
In reply to Post #6
Oddly enough it was Skinner's muesli mix that suspected slug pellets was found in. I was feeding my dog on it up until my mate found them. Never again
Oddly enough it was Skinner's muesli mix that suspected slug pellets was found in. I was feeding my dog on it up until my mate found them. Never again
Fed my dog the other day 2 handfuls of chicken breast ‘already gently steamed from farmfoods, cracking meal and price' whilst I was cooking my 10oz ribeye.....She ate the chicken, came to sit by me licking her lips so felt obliged to give her my steak which she duly wolfed.
In reply to Post #1
we have a 9yr old shar pei, hes been on scienceplan since day one after reacting to raw.
took him to that tv vet down in haslemere, 2 minutes and 450 quid later he said put him on scienceplan
we mix in sardines or tuna too. he loves it and for a 9yr old is fit and healthy even the vets comment how good he is for he age.
tumeric we use a few times a week too, this has helped him alot too, he has great skin and never had issues.
we have just started yumove due to hes age too.
if you ever suffer with hes ears give me a shout ive found a liquid in the past couple of years and its been a life and money saver,
enjoy mate
we have a 9yr old shar pei, hes been on scienceplan since day one after reacting to raw.
took him to that tv vet down in haslemere, 2 minutes and 450 quid later he said put him on scienceplan
we mix in sardines or tuna too. he loves it and for a 9yr old is fit and healthy even the vets comment how good he is for he age.
tumeric we use a few times a week too, this has helped him alot too, he has great skin and never had issues.
we have just started yumove due to hes age too.
if you ever suffer with hes ears give me a shout ive found a liquid in the past couple of years and its been a life and money saver,
enjoy mate
Don't forget the lungworm treatment.
Can't stress enough the fatal damage it does once it's in their system.
Can't stress enough the fatal damage it does once it's in their system.
In reply to Post #9
Whats the ear treatment mate as they suffer from ear infections with the there long floppy ears.
Whats the ear treatment mate as they suffer from ear infections with the there long floppy ears.
In reply to Post #1
I've had 2 beddlington terriers and a fell terrier they all suffered with ear infections whilst eating raw.
My new beddlington and whippet have a mix of dry and cooked meat which seems a perfect combination.
Be careful which dry food you get, one of the major brands is not very healthy for your dog.
I've had 2 beddlington terriers and a fell terrier they all suffered with ear infections whilst eating raw.
My new beddlington and whippet have a mix of dry and cooked meat which seems a perfect combination.
Be careful which dry food you get, one of the major brands is not very healthy for your dog.
In reply to Post #11
Its called zymox.
Theres a facebook group.
Been using the drops 4 years and not a single issue.
He used to suffer badly beforehand
Its called zymox.
Theres a facebook group.
Been using the drops 4 years and not a single issue.
He used to suffer badly beforehand
In reply to Post #13
Best pet skin & ear solutions uk
On facebook
Honestly blue zymox is a game changer
Best pet skin & ear solutions uk
On facebook
Honestly blue zymox is a game changer
In reply to Post #13
Cheers 👍🏻
Cheers 👍🏻
In reply to Post #1
if you your thinking of feeding raw check out Paleo Ridge, lots of info on their site.
Local company to me but they ship all over, and they know a bit about your breed too
Paul
if you your thinking of feeding raw check out Paleo Ridge, lots of info on their site.
Local company to me but they ship all over, and they know a bit about your breed too
Paul
IME there are pros and cons to both raw and dry, some of the dry is crap and some of the raw nonsense about is just utter tosh, do your homework. I had 2 of ours on a true raw and bones diet for 7 years without issues, they were both very healthy. Our present 2 are on dry/mix.
Feed your dog a raw bone every now and then, preferably one they can eat not just chew. One of the issues with dry diets and some raw is that not enough 'roughage' gets through the system to enable the anal glands to work properly and you may experience problems. 1 of ours developed IBD afer a bout of Giardia, she can now only eat a specialist dry diet (Purina HA) and can't tolerate any 'roughage' she has had a ruptured anal gland and the vet said the issue was the soft diet.
Do not just feed your dog meat, it will impair liver function over time it's too high in protein as a sole diet (so a vet told us)
Do not be put off by meat products or derivatives all being crap, some are necessary, ie collagen etc as a source of Glucosamine.
I'd seriously consider a raw diet but a true one not the crap being sold to people now, it's like baby food! Pardon the pun but have a look at the true raw meaty bones diet and pick the bones from it in it's updated form. It copped for a lot of flack on release for treating dogs...err...like a dog
including periods of fasting...god forbid a dog should be hungry...doh.
Above all enjoy, that's a hell of a puppy, going to run you ragged
Feed your dog a raw bone every now and then, preferably one they can eat not just chew. One of the issues with dry diets and some raw is that not enough 'roughage' gets through the system to enable the anal glands to work properly and you may experience problems. 1 of ours developed IBD afer a bout of Giardia, she can now only eat a specialist dry diet (Purina HA) and can't tolerate any 'roughage' she has had a ruptured anal gland and the vet said the issue was the soft diet.
Do not just feed your dog meat, it will impair liver function over time it's too high in protein as a sole diet (so a vet told us)
Do not be put off by meat products or derivatives all being crap, some are necessary, ie collagen etc as a source of Glucosamine.
I'd seriously consider a raw diet but a true one not the crap being sold to people now, it's like baby food! Pardon the pun but have a look at the true raw meaty bones diet and pick the bones from it in it's updated form. It copped for a lot of flack on release for treating dogs...err...like a dog
including periods of fasting...god forbid a dog should be hungry...doh.Above all enjoy, that's a hell of a puppy, going to run you ragged
In reply to Post #17
Cheers, good advice 👍🏻 Yes we are in for some fun and games. Only 8 days to go now till we get him.
Cheers, good advice 👍🏻 Yes we are in for some fun and games. Only 8 days to go now till we get him.
Dry food is like buying frozen pizza's
Feeding raw is like being in the kitchen and making a fresh healthy meal with good ingredients
I'm 100% pro Barf I've been feeding this for 16 years to my dogs, on days when I can't feed Barf I give dry food of Farmina, Orijen or Acana, Farmina is my new favorite atmt but cant beat a decent Barf meal.
Feeding raw is like being in the kitchen and making a fresh healthy meal with good ingredients
I'm 100% pro Barf I've been feeding this for 16 years to my dogs, on days when I can't feed Barf I give dry food of Farmina, Orijen or Acana, Farmina is my new favorite atmt but cant beat a decent Barf meal.
Just to add after the passing of our beloved Nikka we have now adopted a 3 year old rescue lurcher. We are feeding her on naturo dog food which is supposedly good with natural ingredients. Buy it direct from Naturo of which they've a good selection and our rescue loves it. Eaten every single flavour. I feed her on the trays and tins and mix it in with the naturo kibble. All good so far.
Look up the condition of bloat and how to minimise the potential of getting it.
In reply to Post #19
Not all dry food is poor quality. We feed our ridgeback millies wolfheart with some forthglade wet food mixed in.
Not all dry food is poor quality. We feed our ridgeback millies wolfheart with some forthglade wet food mixed in.
In reply to Post #21
Sorry for your loss. Bloat is very scary and its the lack of time you have to get to the vets to get it sorted that makes it so dangerous.
Sorry for your loss. Bloat is very scary and its the lack of time you have to get to the vets to get it sorted that makes it so dangerous.
In reply to Post #23
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