Raw Food vs. Dog Food

[zaclucy]

Hi

I give my 2 ox tail on a regular basis, with no problems at all. Are you sure he didn't pick something up while out.

Janet x

[maxandskye]

Hi there.

Yes, Heidi had excatly the same as Harvey & she has been fine.

To be honest I was just a little concerned about the bone in the middle, or is it cartilage ?? I dont know With regards to them swallowing it whole.

I`ll see how he goes on tonight. All of the day he has been really clinging to me. Hes such a big softy, probably looking for sympathy

Maxandskye.

[kita]

This is a useful article to read:

Natural Diet: Don't "Just Do It"


So many people advocate feeding a 'natural' diet without really understanding what it is or the fact that it is so complex.

How many people feed raw chicken wings/carcasses? In a truely 'natural' diet you would feed the WHOLE chicken - feathers and all. Any bones that got splintered in the chewing process would then be encased/wrapped in the indigestible feathers and so pass safely through the stomach/intestine and expelled. By feeding plucked carcasses any bones that are splintered will be able to pierce/cut the stomach/intestine walls.

Same thing applies to rabbit carcasses, in the wild the dog will eat the fur and skin which again will wrap around any sharp bone pieces thus protecting the dogs insides.

Whilst I agree that feeding a 'natural' diet can be good for our dogs I think that very few people have the knowledge or the dedication (or for that matter access to WHOLE carcasses) to do it properly and ensure that the balance of vitamins/minerals etc. for each individual dog is correct.

Sue

[Wooferhound]

Anyone that is interested, or are currently feeding raw, take a look at the Canine Health Concern website, a real eye opener in some cases and lots of info!

Canine Health Concern

Jo
x

[LOVEGSD]

Just a quick note to say that I've moved the last few posts on this thread to the correct thread as we were going off topic and talking about boosters/innoculations....so for anyone looking for that thread please see the link below.

http://www.mygermanshepherd.co.uk/fo...culations.html

Thanks
x

[GSDOWNER]

Originally Posted by kita

This is a useful article to read:

Natural Diet: Don't "Just Do It"


So many people advocate feeding a 'natural' diet without really understanding what it is or the fact that it is so complex.

How many people feed raw chicken wings/carcasses? In a truely 'natural' diet you would feed the WHOLE chicken - feathers and all. Any bones that got splintered in the chewing process would then be encased/wrapped in the indigestible feathers and so pass safely through the stomach/intestine and expelled. By feeding plucked carcasses any bones that are splintered will be able to pierce/cut the stomach/intestine walls.

Same thing applies to rabbit carcasses, in the wild the dog will eat the fur and skin which again will wrap around any sharp bone pieces thus protecting the dogs insides.

Whilst I agree that feeding a 'natural' diet can be good for our dogs I think that very few people have the knowledge or the dedication (or for that matter access to WHOLE carcasses) to do it properly and ensure that the balance of vitamins/minerals etc. for each individual dog is correct.

Sue

George has no chance of ever been feed raw "natural" after reading this sue

[LOVEGSD]

Originally Posted by GSDOWNER

George has no chance of ever been feed raw "natural" after reading this sue

you were squeamish before this but omg with feathers and fur

Hi
I have been feeding my dogs a natural diet for the last 15 years. They have all lived to be in double figures and the teeth were as white and sound as any young dog or puppies. The coats were great and they didn't get smelly breath. they defecated less than the old dog which was fed on processed food. prior to my becoming educated about diet. i attended a years Canine Studies Course and diet was one of the subjects researched. After seeing what ingredients are used in the majority of processed foods, would never use it again. Both my current GSD and my two cats are thriving on their raw meat, vegetables (which are put through a processor) and meaty covered bones including chicken carcases, wings and backs, plus fruit. All my dogs have foraged in the Blackberry season, picking theirs at lower lever and eating them whilst I put ours in a container to take home.
Wouldn't use a processed food now if it was given to me free of charge.
I have not had any dog suffer with stomach upsets or problems with them eating bones etc.

[QUOTE=Patricia Sears;49242]Hi
I have been feeding my dogs a natural diet for the last 15 years. They have all lived to be in double figures and the teeth were as white and sound as any young dog or puppies. The coats were great and they didn't get smelly breath. they defecated less than the old dog which was fed on processed food, prior to my becoming educated about diet. I attended a years Canine Studies Course and diet was one of the subjects researched. After seeing what ingredients are used in the majority of processed foods, would never use it again. Both my current GSD and my two cats are thriving on their raw meat, vegetables (which are put through a processor) and meaty covered bones including chicken carcases, wings and backs, plus fruit. All my dogs have foraged in the Blackberry season, picking theirs at lower lever and eating them whilst I put ours in a container to take home.
Wouldn't use a processed food now if it was given to me free of charge.[/QUOTE

There are many good "commercial" foods on the market. These are calculated with the proper nutrients. Feeding raw there are many pitfalls. Quality of raw meat - how does anyone know whether the meat is free from any disease? Does everyone have a way of testing this meat? Also, not forgetting the dogs that have genetic digestive disorders - you have to be especially careful what you feed.

[DelsMum]

I know the quality of my dogs meat as it comes from an organic butcher and is all fit for human consumption, its the stuff that isn't fit for human consumption that goes into low quality dog food.

I too would rather my dogs missed a meal than had low quality dog food.