Raw Feed Senior

[DNeff]

I started Osa (10yrs+) on raw food about two months ago. She is getting 1lb of meat a day and about 14 ounces of veggies a day. She was a touch under weight when I got her 77lbs, I would like to see her at about 80lbs.

Today at the vet she weighed in at 74lbs. The vet said I may need to look at adding some carbs to her raw diet (vet supports raw feeding) to help her keep the weight on. Does anybody have any suggestions? I really had hoped to avoid all grains in her diet, so I am a bit torn as to what to do. Any suggestions on what to add, and how much? Are there better grains to add? Or better ways to add carbs to her diet?

I will also note that she is on thyroid medicine, and I am concerned she is being over medicated at this point, which is preventing her from putting the weight back on. I should have the new thryoid test results by Monday.

TIA!

Dawn + Osa
U-CD Cammcastle's Mystic Riven CDX OAC OJC OGC OAJ NA TT CGC
http://members.aol.com/dplantier
http://members.aol.com/rottweilerworld

[mmgy]

Dawn, Homer's evening meal is typically half ground beef and half oatmeal, and it's worked pretty well. A lot of what I do is based on some reading at bowchow.com, in the kidney section. I think a lot of that is appropriate to older dogs, whether they have kidney disease or not.

She suggests that the diet be approx. half carbs, and Homer just doesn't want but so many veggies. I add a bit of bacon fat while cooking the oats, and that makes them VERY appealing. Still, I don't think they're more than about 15% of his daily ration.

[Bruce Lanthier]

I'm not a RAW feeder but I do mix other stuff with the kibble pretty often. My dogs love cooked spaghetti or rice and those are good sources of carbs.

[DNeff]

Thanks Bruce and Mary! Those are some great suggestions. Osa is a chow hound, so I am sure she will gobble up whatever I give her. :)

Dawn + Osa
U-CD Cammcastle's Mystic Riven CDX OAC OJC OGC OAJ NA TT CGC
http://members.aol.com/dplantier
http://members.aol.com/rottweilerworld

[moondog]

If it wasn't for carbohydrates, Luna would have wasted away a long time ago! :) If I had to pick a grain in your situation, I think I'd try oatmeal first. It has good nutritional value compared to other grains and is high in glutamic acid, which helps the body build proteins. Pasta or brown rice will work, too.

[mmgy]

Moondog knows FAR more than I will ever know, so if she says oatmeal, there you go! But to let you know, Dawn, there's a little grain chart on bowchow.com's kidney page that might help you some too. It lists protein, fat, carbs, calories, calcium, and phosphorus. If you're feeding lots of bone you can use the grains to help balance calcium and phosphorus.

[Miabella]

Not a raw feeder here, but what about baked sweet potatoes? Lots of nutrients in those, and I bet Osa would think they are pretty yummy.

[DNeff]

Thanks Patti, Mary and Laurie. This should help out. I happen to have oatmeal at home (oatmeal cookie bars are my favorite :D), so this should give me a good place to start.

I will also check out the website to see what they suggest as well. I'm sure Osa would LOVE sweet potatoes.

Osa sends smoochies.

Dawn + Osa
U-CD Cammcastle's Mystic Riven CDX OAC OJC OGC OAJ NA TT CGC
http://members.aol.com/dplantier
http://members.aol.com/rottweilerworld

[Rott-Wiley]

Oatmeal is great to add to raw hamburger. You can get the instant quick cooking kind and just add it directly to the burger without having to cook it. It does tend to put the weight on so I do use it sparingly.

[mmgy]

Originally posted by DNeff
Osa sends smoochies.

Smoochies right back at ya cutie pie!!!!!!!!;)

[frontierrots]

My old lady Rott, Angelica (12 years old and 18 MONTHS post diagnosis for bladder cancer) eats Raw Bravo (ground raw and ground veggies) and canned Innova

On plain raw she lost a bit of weight. On this combo she actually put on too much at first until Miss Bea came and now exercises the old lady daily!

Gel looks and feels great and is very playful. She also sleeps alot but hey, she IS 12

[moondog]

Originally posted by DNeff
Osa sends smoochies.

And more smoochies from California, where Osa is on our state flag! :) :D

[DNeff]

Well the good news is, I was correct about Osa's medication being too high. Her test came back at 7.3 and the vet said 4.0 is the top of the normal range. The vet said to cut her meds back to one pill a meal.

I am hoping the raw diet and kelp have helped her thyroid out some. I am now hoping we can get her down even further. :)

Osa loved the oatmeal!!! However Riven was quite put out he was getting any, so he gets a bit with his dinner too. Hard to have such spoiled dogs around. :D

Thanks again for all the great thoughts and suggestions!!

Dawn + Osa
U-CD Cammcastle's Mystic Riven CDX OAC OJC OGC OAJ NA TT CGC
http://members.aol.com/dplantier
http://members.aol.com/rottweilerworld

[mmgy]

Maybe the medication change will help her hold weight a bit better.

Of course Homer is older than Osa, and she may not need this;), but his oatmeal and an occasional handful of kibble (when I don't have enough raw thawed) seem to keep him more regular. A little grain isn't all bad.

Smooches to Riven too!:D Don't want our boy feeling left out!!

[moondog]

GREAT news on the thyroid! :D Just the correction on her medication might solve the whole problem! That said, there's no harm in a little oatmeal! :D

Luna goes bonkers for a little oatmeal....she thinks it's the best treat ever. :) Between oatmeal balls and egg whites, she has no idea that she's missing out on anything.