raw foods

Isn't it amazing that people will buy expensive dogs (ex: yorkies....400 to 2000 dollars) but won't shell out the $1 a pound to feed their pets something good? Seriously, you can get by on a dollar a pound for something good for your dog.

My grandmother paid $600 per dog and feeds them crap. I paid $0 for one cat, and $100 adoption fee for the other and I feed them good food. I noticed when I fed them Whiskas, they would eat and eat and eat. With Nutro dry, they fill up faster because the food is better for them, and they don't eat as much. They love it. Tyran walked around on my chest meowing this morning until I got up to feed them.

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Originally Posted by daaangconcepts

I feed Innova EVO red meat! :sweeet:

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good food!

We started using this brand within the last year: http://www.canidae.com/

We had some issues with our dogs eating their poo and throwing up. We tried a few different types of foods all of good quality as hard as it was to be careful about changing foods on them. The Canidae has been the best so far, both dogs have shown improvement. My dog (redbone coon hound) still has a bit of a poo fetish but not nearly as bad. My wife has done real well with them as far as feeding. We only give each dog the recommended amount based on weight as well as a time limit to eat it (not an exact time). We also separate them to make sure both get what they need.

I think the poop eating comes from malnutrition. A dog doesn't fully digest its food if it is a crappy dog food, so some of it passes. The feces still has edible matter that I suppose would *gag* entice him to eat it.

I get this feeling you're being kind of condescending towards people that don't do a raw diet. I have three healthy dogs that eat dry food, and have thrived on it. My dogs have been very sick when exposed to actual meat. I know part of the argument is 'why should their domesticated diet be different from what it is in the wild', etc... But there are many things different in domestication then there are in the wild. Domesticated dogs eat twice daily, do not have as high an activity level, etc... I don't think all dog food companies are "evil." It just doesn't make sense. I know there's been a huge scare because what has happened with the foods recently and they're being sharply scrutinized now. But I have a hard time believing so many vets would endorse foods that are absolutely awful for your dog. Companies may cut corners, as they do with our foods, but it is simply a fact of life. In regards to the bones, I would never feed cooked or uncooked bones to my dogs. About ten years ago, my border collie had SEVERE digestive tract problems stemming from eating an uncooked chicken bone, and I've decided that it's just not the way to go...

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Originally Posted by darkangel

I get this feeling you're being kind of condescending towards people that don't do a raw diet.

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I don't get that impression at all. :confused:

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Originally Posted by darkangel

I don't think all dog food companies are "evil."

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I agree. Not all commercial dog food companies are "evil." Their has been a few brands mentioned in this thread that make great HEALTHY dry food.

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Originally Posted by darkangel

I know there's been a huge scare because what has happened with the foods recently and they're being sharply scrutinized now.

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As they should be.

???

Not like I'm offended or anything. Just read the thread and felt like I should feel guilty for not feeding my dog raw food. I'm sure many people have success with it. Just giving my opinion, that's all.

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Originally Posted by Wolfsnaps

I think the poop eating comes from malnutrition. A dog doesn't fully digest its food if it is a crappy dog food, so some of it passes. The feces still has edible matter that I suppose would *gag* entice him to eat it.

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You would think this was the case but as I said it was not. We tried vet recommendations which I think was science diet, as well as some other higher end dog foods and the stuff we have now seems to be the best on both dogs digestive systems. My hound has/had the issues more so than my wife's jack russel. The hound gets bad gas often as well, she was a rescue who clearly came from an abusing owner so who knows what she was eating then. Maybe its nerves even now years later she is easily scared :(

Did you know your vet is paid to reccommend Science Diet? By the Science Diet (Hills Farms I believe) company themselves.

I feed my chihuahua and chihuahua/dashie mix raw. I don't really pay much attentian to the BARF trend, as all the suppliments just seem unnessasary to me. They get whole prey, along with large meats, on and off the bone. All raw.
My dogs have clean shiny smooth coats, sparkeling clean teeth, no stink, no health problems, and miniscule poops, even for their small body!
I made this choice long before the petfood recalls, after reading over and over awful things about kibble. And after all, shouldn't food spoil? Not sit on a shelf for months and months, as kibble does.
Here's a fairly good link, with a few pages of info (the best I could dig up on short notice, on the worst possible dial-up!)
http://www.husky-petlove.com/dogfood.html

As for those who feed kibble, no I do not look down upon you! I have seen MANY happy and healthy dogs who eat kibble. This is a choice the owner makes, and I, nor anyone else, has the right to call someone a bad owner by the choice they make, as long as their dog is healthy and happy! And with the millions dieing in shelters....better a home with Ol'Roy (ew!) than no home at all!!