Do you feed raw to your pets?

[Cindy Nevarez]

I have trouble finding fresh raw liver here for some reason. I'd use beef whenever I see it. Otherwise in their raw mix they usually have chicken hearts and gizzards.

Recently tho, when I bought food from Evangers, I saw that they have a canned product called "Chicken, Beef, Liver".....nothing else...., of which I bought several cases. so now they get some liver...cooked, but at least it's there.

[zanzie]

Hi Mary K -

I'm not currently a vegetarian, but have been from time to time. Basically, I prefer a meatless diet, but since I have a household of omnivorous men to feed, I cook meat. Now I've added two carnivorous felines to my kitchen duties! I'm not squeamish about meat, fortunately, and my background is in microbiology, so I'm careful about cross contamination.

The latest on our girls is that after 3 weeks, they are both fully on board with the program. No more tuna temptation, and no more dainty licking of the "icky" chunks of meat. They both go for it happily, leaving their bowls licked clean. Callie looks slimmer and more fit, both girls have great coats, and their eyes are clearer with less runny goop. We've all been happy to find the cat box less smelly too. Foot Foot didn't have any weight to lose, but her coat is softer, and both cats are shedding less, even in the spring heat. Callie used to throw up several times a week, but after the first couple of days getting used to raw meat, she stopped throwing up. We also seem to have pretty well eliminated hairballs.

With the uncertainty over melachicken, I'm limiting my use of chicken livers for a while. Today I used calf liver in the recipe. When I couldn't find any beef liver in the meat case, I asked about it. I was told that it's hard for them to stock beef liver because it is very perishable. However, they stocked very nice calves liver in the freezer case at a price comparable to fresh chicken livers.  I wouldn't have thought to look there, so I'm glad I asked!

[willyagogo]

Hi Zanzie!

Funny you mentioned about your pet's eyes!......I said to my husband a couple weeks into the home-cooked diet ( which I'm slowly introducing raw items into)....that I thought that my dog's eyes seemed more "sparkly!"

My one Sheltie has allready lost some weight (he was getting rather "portly").....
and the rise in their energy is undeniable!!...Their coats have always been beautiful....but for some reason there is a more silky texture...and my little female Sheltie isn't scratching like before.

When I first introduced the raw....Willy (the "once portly" male) had a soft stool but there was no vomitting or anything. Now they are both handling it really well...

Twice a week...I make up a liver slurry (beef liver, veggies, baked egg shells) and they just lap it up! They each get a cup twice a week. Ooops!....I forgot to mention that I also put a can of salmon in the slurry (sockeye) bones and all!!

I only wish that I had been feeding my babies this way right from the get-go!! I sure have learned a lot.....and I keep on learning new things constantly...it's great to see my dogs so happy!!!..

[mel_t]

I'm feeding raw as well, from www.catnutrition.org.  I originally started getting meat from a butcher who would grind bone (they're hard to find) but in January I invested in my own grinder, as it is much cheaper to get the meat.  I usually try to get naturally raised meat, but in a pinch will buy grocery store chicken.  I always get naturally raised livers though, because the liver is where the toxins are filtered, so I figure it will have the most impact. 

since going on raw, both my cats are so much healthier. People comment on how well they look, the quality of the fur etc. One of my cats was diagnosed diabetic a year ago, and I partially credit raw with getting her off insulin (most of the credit can go to Dr. Hodgkins' protocol though) She runs around like a kitten now (she's almost 13) and I haven't seen her doing that in years.

 Even my vet, who advised against raw because of concerns with salmonella, had to admit it seemed to be beneficial for my other cat, who has Inflammatory bowel disease.  Since going on raw, all of his bowel issues have completely cleared up! 

as long as you are using a balanced recipe, like the one at catnutrition, and not adding all kinds of "extras" like grain, fruit and veggie, then a raw diet is the gold standard.  proteins and enzymes etc in raw food are altered when cooked, and since animals in the wild don't cook their foods, then it makes sense that a raw diet would provide the closest thing to their natural diet.

[Cindy Nevarez]

It never ceases to amaze me that vets of all people would have issues with raw, when they should understand the digestion systems of our pets are so much shorter and acidic than ours, that bacteria such as Samonella should not be an issue.

Oh well, that just speaks to the overall ignorance of vets who are pushing heavy carb/chemical/by-product laden food on their clients in the first place.

[Mary K]

Thanks, Everyone. I love this! Everyone here seems really satisfied with the results of feeding raw. We could call it the Raw Food Bandwagon-ha-ha!!       Really though, what can people say against it who have been pushing commercial and discouraging raw? The proof is in the pet! I am happy your pets are healthy! I do realize most folks just don't have the time to try this. But if you do, sounds like a great idea!

[willyagogo]

My Gosh!!!....

A couple of years ago...I don't think that I would have considered the raw diet....part ignorance/part fear?

Anyways, thanks to so many websites and endless reading of other's experiences...I wouldn't have it any other way!....My Shelties have NEVER looked better or had as much energy!

I don't show my Shelties...I just love the breed! But they were starting to get..well, what I thought was lazy...didn't seem to want to play as much. Now these 2 play non-stop...outside AND inside!

When I first started the home-cooking.....the vomitting stopped, the eyes were more "alert".......but it was when I started to introduce the raw meaty bones that I really started to see the energy level go back to the way they were when they were pups! It's like their way of telling me that they are feeling so much better and that they are enjoying their life more!

I'm no professional nutritionalist or anything....but I know my dogs.....and it's the best thing that I have ever done for them! I can't tell you how good that feels! It may not be the diet of choice for everyone....and I'm not trying to push it on anyone....I'm just telling the results of MY experiences. If it helps someone else in their decision that's great!

Thank you everyone for all of your help!..I feel so happy!,,,,,

[willyagogo]

Greetings Everyone!!!!

I have a question that I hope someone will be able offer advice on.....

One of my Shelties (Willy).....hasn't "pooped" for over a day....he usually does so in the morning, like clockwork! He gets into the "pooping position" but, alas, nothing comes out. I believe that he's constipated.....first time in a VERY long time!

Now, I understand that some dogs will get constipated from the bones in the raw diet....my question is this...

Is there anything NATURAL (food etc...) that I can give him to "clean out the pipes" so to speak? It must be very uncomfortable for him.....and although I know what to give him should he get the "runs".....I'm at a loss when it comes to constipation!

Anything that anyone could offer, would be SOOOOO appreciated by me...but most of all..Willy!

Thanks in advance!.....

[Cindy Nevarez]

Yes!

Plain canned pumpkin (no sugar or anything added) will fix him right up. It is the "miracle food" that will fix stools if they are loose or dry.

Mix in a couple of heaping tablespoons in each meal. I had to do this with my JRT when she ate straight raw food.

[willyagogo]

Oh thank you Cindy!!!

I have just done the "pumpkin fix" a couple of hours ago. My "Willy" weighs about 35 lbs.....so I gave him 3 tbsps twice this afternoon. The Vet said that it should work in a few hours......but nothing yet.

Do you know how long it usually takes to "kick in?".....I know situations are different, but do you have an approx. idea of how long it should take?

Thanks for the feedback BTW......you have no idea how much it is appreciated!!!.............................

[Cindy Nevarez]

Well, the beautiful thing about using pumpkin is that it doesn't act like a laxative per se. It acts like when you don't eat enough fiber for awhile...and then you do. But since their digestive system is shorter, it'll go through a little quicker than it would us.

So if you fed him a few hours ago, and then again in the morning, he should have a BM at the normal time.

Don't stress about it though...it WILL come out. 

[willyagogo]

Thanks Cindy!

I just get a littled worried about if it's going to hurt when it comes out! I know that HUMAN constipation sure isn't a pleasant experience!

I try not to stress too much because I know that he knows when I'm even a teensie upset.....he will always lay right close to me (um....kinda like he is right now...right at my feet as I type away!!)....he's such a dear soul!!

Well....I have plenty left for his breakfast.....so that should fix him right up then!!! There I'm all better!!!.......*takes a deep breath!*......

You're such a sweetie!....I can't thank you enough for the reassuring words!! That's what's so great about these forums!!! ....Great people with great "cyber" shoulders!!!....

I'll keep you posted!....

[Cindy Nevarez]

Ok,
You might want to give him some regularily though from now on......

[willyagogo]

Sounds like a plan!!!........

[willyagogo]

Cindy!!!

It worked!!!......Yee hah!!!!.....

Thanks for the advice!