Raw Diet Update

[MikeT66]

Just wanted to give an update on Rykers well being and to thanks for all the help and guidance I was given. Well Ryker is doing GREAT on the raw diet. I am giving him Natures Variety Raw mixed in with his kibble daily. His coat is great, health is great, and poops are excellent. Recently took him to a Pet Expo and he was the highlight of the place. Everyone said what a beautiful Rott he was. So I just wanted to thank everyone for all the help and advice I was given with my many many questions.

[AngelBunny]

Altho I've long felt raw is the best diet for our canine companions, I felt I didn’t have enough time to feed it. It wasn’t until our foster failed to thrive on 3 months of Canidae, followed by 3 months on CA Nat that I finally took my vet’s advice and moved to raw feeding. Foster Boy and our two girls were switched to raw June 26, 2007.

The change in Foster Boy was remarkable. The change in the girls less so (no too surprising as they’re both much healthier dogs that FB).

I don’t expect to feed kibble to any personal dog again.

[MikeT66]

Here is a picture of Ryker we took at the Expo if I am able to attach it here. If not his pic is in the gallery

[alexav]

I too am venturing into the world of raw foods.

One thing I have heard from several experts is not to feed raw and kibble at the same meal. They digest at different rates and it's better to feed seperately.

One of my girls is on the NV raw and Evo to eliminate the grain and gluten from her diet. We have no problems switching back and forth without mixing.

Just a thought...

C

[AngelBunny]

Originally Posted by alexav

IOne thing I have heard from several experts is not to feed raw and kibble at the same meal. They digest at different rates and it's better to feed seperately...

I've heard this, too.

Malarkey.

Once the food gets in the stomach, the highly acidic dog's stomach digests whatever is in there. What dogs don't digest well are uncooked veggies and fruits because dogs weren't designed to eat these things. When I fed kibble, I fed raw and kibble at the same time w/o any problems at all.

Who are the people who told you the dog has two different digestion rates. depending on whether the food is raw or kibble?

[alexav]

Originally Posted by AngelBunny

Who are the people who told you the dog has two different digestion rates. depending on whether the food is raw or kibble?

The dog doesn't have two different digestion rates, but the food does.
Who told me? One is my Holistic Vet, Kim Henneman. Another is someone who wrote a book on feeding raw...who's name escapes me at the moment.
I think the Whole Dog Journal has addressed this as well.

I have fed raw and kibble mixed in the past with no problems at all but now I feed them seperately based on what I learned.

It's no more work for me, and if it's even a little better for my dog, why not?

[AngelBunny]

Originally Posted by alexav

The dog doesn't have two different digestion rates, but the food does.
Who told me? One is my Holistic Vet, Kim Henneman. Another is someone who wrote a book on feeding raw...who's name escapes me at the moment...
I think the Whole Dog Journal has addressed this as well.

If the food digests differently, what digests faster--raw or kibble?

I'm guessing raw because it's not processed.

[alexav]

Originally Posted by AngelBunny

If the food digests differently, what digests faster--raw or kibble?

I'm guessing raw because it's not processed.

I think so too. One of the things that really concerned me was that Petra would sometimes vomit kibble over 6 hours after she ate! I knew that couldn't be a good thing!
The raw and grain free diets seem not to linger, but then she doesn't vomit anymore so how would I know?

[brunie's mom]

Originally Posted by AngelBunny

I've heard this, too.

Malarkey.

Once the food gets in the stomach, the highly acidic dog's stomach digests whatever is in there. What dogs don't digest well are uncooked veggies and fruits because dogs weren't designed to eat these things. When I fed kibble, I fed raw and kibble at the same time w/o any problems at all.

Who are the people who told you the dog has two different digestion rates. depending on whether the food is raw or kibble?

The food does digest at two different rates....but that does NOT mean that raw and kibble cannot be fed in the same meal. I know that Monica Segal has discussed this in both of her books.

We eat different things at one meal...raw carrots, with cooked meats,etc...it makes not difference...everything get's digested eventually.

I've also fed kibble and raw together at the same meal for years...never had any problems...I've also fed cooked home made meals with kibble...also no problems. Things get digested overall much quicker in dogs, because of their digestive enzymes.

Gina

[rottnkidd]

I have fed raw for 8 yrs now. In the first few months of switching to raw, I would add fresh food to the kibble, and never had a digestive upset.
On the other hand, feeding raw, meaty bones AND kibble together is more likely to cause digestive upset in some dogs.
I have always fed one meal of meaty bones, and the 2nd meal consisting of meat/egg/organs, etc.,..
Best wishes-
kathy