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Post by Snareman on May 27, 2005 14:32:11 GMT -5
Ok "Moderators", if I'm wrong posting here, you can delete my post. LOL!
Sounds like a crazy headline, doesn't it? Well, I have 2 smaller dogs that are full grown, both under 11 lbs. I've always felt sorry for them because they don't know what they are going to eat from one night to the next. One night they could be served honied ham or smoked turkey. It could then be roast beef, ham, chicken, deer meat, hamburger, fresh cooked carrots(just for them), corned beef, fish or steak. ALL COOKED of course.
Well, about a week ago I was at a website that talked about dog nutrition. Talked about the benefit of feeding dogs raw meat and bones. Long story short, I love these little guys and was urked at feeding them any raw meat. Why? Don't know... germs?.. bacteria?... salmonella?
I know guys that feed their dogs raw meat all the time. Some even beaver meat and deer meat... raw.
Do any of you feed your dogs raw meat on a continual basis? Do any of you have problems feeding your dogs raw meat or are worried about it?
The website I was looking at earlier talked about the negatives of just feeding dogs dry food. Dry food accounts for about 75% of one dog's diet and about 60% of the other.
Anyway, I did get some beef neck bones which are recommended for my little dogs. Not so much as a source of food, but something they can chew on to keep their gums healthy. I also bought them some chuck stake... and fed it to them... RAW. LOL!
Any opinions, stories, etc?
Snareman
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Post by steven49er on May 27, 2005 16:52:37 GMT -5
Snareman, have feed my dogs beaver for years with no perceived side effects. They are even allowed to eat trimmings off the fleshing beam when doing beavers. Got to be careful here though a dog can get fat in a hurry of beaver trimmings.
I dont feed it to them during hunting season though. Only a premium dog food then. I like Nutro.
I would personally say that in the overall picture a good quality dog food is probably better for a dog. More of a balanced diet.
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Post by Snareman on May 27, 2005 17:23:33 GMT -5
steven49er, yeah, know dogs love beaver meat!.. and the fleshings too. They're gonna get their first taste this coming winter! One is already a tad "pudgy" by the little roll she has. LOL! ============================ ============================
The website that talked about dog nutrition talked about canines were meant to eat raw meat and gather good nutrition from it and that cooked foods, commercial dry dog foods included, are not a beneficial source of vitamins and nutrients like raw meat is.
They further go on to discuss that in order for the dry dog food to be processed mechanically, some of the fluff needs to be added to make it all work. Also talked about how some of these things in dog food is never really eaten by wild canines in significant quantities.... making light of several things that are necessary in a quality human diet or void in canines.
I've been feeding the dogs raw beef... chuck stake, it's not as spendy as the sirloin. LOL!
They got their first taste of beef neck bones here the other night... and they love it. The site also talked about cooked bones are more dangerous to canines because it makes them more brittle, susceptible to splintering, whereas raw bones are more soft and pliable being easier to digest for canines. The neck bones were recommended as a way to keep the dog's gums healthy. (we're talking small dogs here too)
I just want these little guys to get the most out of life, live their longest and be healthy all the way through.
Any more feedback about raw meat and dogs?
Snareman
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ADC
Seasoned Veteran
Posts: 335
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Post by ADC on May 27, 2005 18:06:32 GMT -5
The only advice I have on this is DO NOT feed them any raw rabbit. My dog ate some left over stuff after I cleaned a few rabbits and the vet said that is a no-no as it does/did give her worms. $35 for the pill to get rid of the worms will buy alot of dog food.
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Post by Snareman on May 27, 2005 20:53:36 GMT -5
ADC,
Good to know and agree. I'm also flinching at the notion of raw beaver meat for my little guys, but I don't think I'll feed them too much... just enough for a taste!
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I'm feeding these guys raw beef neck bones. I earlier said for their gums, but I think I meant to say for their teeth to help fight plaque. Can't remember what I read now, just that it's suppose to be healthy.
Do any of you swear by or know of a good dry dog food? If you like it so much, please explain why. They eat and like a Walmart brand right now, but I feel guilty feeding them that knowing there has to be something more healthy than that. It's not the cheapest, but far from top of the line... assuming by it's price and from Walmart.
Snareman
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mmwb
New Member
Posts: 47
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Post by mmwb on May 27, 2005 23:32:24 GMT -5
Most dogs are going to need more than just the meat. Some of those who keep live fox and yotes indicate that they feed them some whole animals so that they can get the balance of nutrients from the organs and entrails. Don't think you can hurt them with meat, but they will need more. IAMs and Science diet have good reps. Most of the less expensive commercial dog foods have more filler. The dog then has to eat more of it to get the nutrients in quantity needed. In the end it costs as much as feeding less of the more expensive stuff. With the cheaper stuff, with the extra filler, they will leave more messes as well.
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Post by BadDog on May 28, 2005 14:33:35 GMT -5
I got a white german sheperd pup last winter. He took a real liking to eating off fox carcasses! Went bonkers on bobcat meat too. However, when he ran out of both he took to eating coyotes with a vengance! The vet didn't much care for it when I told him my doggie was eating such basically just on account of worms and parasites.
Perhaps I'm nuts.... but he is just a dog. He's had all his shots, just needs a dose of de-worm med on occasion.
Does this story horrify you Robert?
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Post by treefoxgetter on May 28, 2005 17:17:13 GMT -5
when we first got our Weinmeroner, we fed her raw chicken for months. Then when she got a little older we changed her food to regular dog food. Now she is a great dog, nothing wrong with her. You talked about being afraid of bacteria, look at some of the things dogs eat, including poop. They get, have bacteria from sitting over time.
Get this though. We were told that if you feed her food that isn't too good of a brand, she would loose her color. Therefore we bought her IAMS. She started eating our beagles Purena Dog Chow which is only one fourth the cost, because she liked the taste better. She never changed colors once.
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Post by buckfreak on May 29, 2005 13:19:08 GMT -5
Fed alot of raw meat to dogs over the years and never hurt them a bit. You can't find any better feed than beaver when working a dog hard. Have fed it to coyote and coon hounds that got hunted HARD and it makes them tough. Just a good combination of protein and fat. Thought to consider: if it isn't good for dogs why do most of the iditarod racers feed it? Most cheap feed has alot of filler such as ground corn and chicken feathers. Had a friend that had a lot of hounds and researched his feed meticulously and found that most companies with the lower grade feeds filled with corn and the chicken feathers. Thats why the label says chicken by products. The Walmart dog food isn't that bad of feed. Just compare the labels with that of high priced feed. The Walmart has just as much or more protein and fat. Just cheaper. My dad has kept dogs for over 50 years and if you want to get him going mention feeding a dog Purina feed. He considers it junk at best. Feeds any pups he raises Diamond from the time they open there eyes. Just soaks it in milk. From what I have seen with the dogs he ever raised your pups get bigger and are alot healthier but the biggest factor is it keeps the mother in excellent shape because the pups don't suck her down to skin and bones. Hope this helps
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Post by Snareman on May 29, 2005 16:15:21 GMT -5
Thanks for the replies! No BadDog, doesn't horrify me, but it does make me cringe a bit. LOL! I was thinking in terms of not only health, but long term life. I'm thinking... let's says there's 2 people and what ate healthy food all his life and another fed himself most food we consider less healthy. By rights you would think the guy who took care of himself throughout his life would have a longer life. I know it doesn't mean in every case, but I know a few guys who are over 70 now and there are in stunning health... mostly eating good wholesome foods, not some of these more processed fatty foods, etc. These little ones of my bring joy into my life and I thought I should be considering the foods they eat as well to help them out.
Thanks!
Snareman
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Post by coyotetrapper36 on May 31, 2005 10:00:35 GMT -5
Feeding a dog a straight diet of raw meat is way to much protein and can lead to kidney failure in many breeds!!! If I were to recommend a good protein source it would be boiled fish, lower protein content in most cases than red meats and the oils in fish are good for the dog's coats as well. The science behind "good dog food these days is way better than even 15 years ago. I good lamb/rice mix or high chicken content, but vary seldom straight raw meat. Run higher protein in the times your dog is most active and then nock it down when the dog is less active. Absorbsion is the key, quality food will produce less dog waste because they absorb more of the overall product, corn filler just comes out the other end, as corn is one of the hardest things for dogs or humans to digest and get what is needed from it, to have any positive effects.
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Post by Snareman on May 31, 2005 10:43:16 GMT -5
coyotetrapper36
Thanks for the reply. They've been getting one section of a beef neck bone to snack on every other day and one medium serving of beef chuck stake 5 times a week...averaging so far. I kept them on their dry dog food.
Snareman
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Post by cousinjack on Jun 2, 2005 13:03:44 GMT -5
:)i have some experience of feeding raw flesh, as i have hunted and looked after a pack of foxhounds for 20 yrs. i have always fed raw flesh if possible, we would collect it from farms where and when they had losses, then prepare it by skinning, and gutting it. in the winter it would hang for weeks, only days in the summer, but i often fed it riddled with maggots and it did them no harm, maggots are just protein anyway. worm at least every six months, use a good wormer like drontal, you get what you pay for. i always did the hounds with a pour on as well "dectomex" is the trade name over here, really helps with any skin problems too. if you feed fatty meats they will not need as much as say you were feeding calf or chicken which is a lean meat with little or no fat content. i believe lots of packs of hounds feed chicken heads and necks over there, for my own house dogs i often get chicken wings from the super market, feed them raw, do not cook, as was previously said cooking makes them brittle and liable to splinter. as for dried foods, again you get what you pay for, science diet is the best, probaly the most expensive too. on occasions when i had to feed dried food it was difficult to keep them in top condition if they were working hard.dogs not brought up on flesh should be introduced to it slowly though. and yes bones are good but never leave bones with dogs that are kenneled together inevitably they will end up fighting if you do. paunch is also good especially bullock paunch, really firms things up if they get a bit loose, but go ahead and feed them raw and bones if they could talk they would thank you for it. cousin jack.
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Post by Snareman on Jun 2, 2005 21:56:42 GMT -5
cousinjack!
Welcome to SnaremanTalk!
Thanks for the info. I've been feeding them one medium serving of chuck steak every other day and a beef neck bone on their day off for about 10 days or so.(small dogs or I'd go broke!) I'm not sure yet, but I'm thinking the male, which is the one that ate less of the dry food and more cooked foods, is not starting to get a shinier coat.
Thanks for the reply.
Snareman
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Corey
New Member
Posts: 49
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Post by Corey on Jun 3, 2005 10:19:48 GMT -5
Snareman...do a internet search on a BARF diet for dogs, you will find all the info you need on a raw meat diet. good luck Corey
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