1/2 and 1/2 Diet

[Deborah Reid]

Well, I think my brain cells are overloaded LOL.. I have been trying to read the archives as much as I can so that I do not pose questions that might already be answered.
I have read quite a bit in the Nutrition section.
BARF or natural diets have always appealed to me, for one thing they just make sence, however, like most people who have not had the extensive experience with these types of diets, I worry about the dog getting everything, even over an extended period of time, that he needs.
I have learned from having a finicky 4 year old that you do not count what he eats meal to meal, or even day to day, but look at it in a broader range, week to week, to see if he is getting all the servings and nutrients that he needs. (Though I still have a hard time not panicking a little bit when he refuses to eat anything else except cookies and sliced luncheon meat for a whole day).
So, I have decided to use Innova and incorporate a BARF diet, hoping to reach a 50/50 basis.
Does anyone else do this? I "think" I saw German mention that he feeds a kibble during the week and BARF on the weekends, but I wondered how peoples experience has been doing a combined diet like this.
Thanks for the input :)

[moonbeam]

I've been feeding 50/50 for almost 2 years. My holistic vet says it's better than all kibble. My dogs get chicken backs and turkey necks, mixed veggie puree (the contents vary every 3 days or so), supplements (vit. C, wheat grass powder, prozyme) and they also get Solid Gold or Wysong kibble. They are doing great, and they look great. Sometimes for one meal they only get the raw meat portion.

[Homerhomer]

If a dog can handle it than I think it's ok. My question is why your goal is to go 50/50 instead of 100% natural?

[Judy Chrusch]

Peter I think her concern is that her dog won't get all the proper nutrients and to be safe she'd like to do both.

Deborah, I started out with Innova and raw too but then it didn't take long before I switched to raw all together, one reason Czar refused to eat the kibble after having all the raw goodies he decided to leave the kibble so to me that was his way of saying "hey, how about giving me the good stuff ALL the time." So that's how we started and to be honest with you I know Czar is getting enough of everything bc he eats anything and everything and there's far more nutrients in the raw then any kibble, JMO of course:) Go with what works for you and your dog but you may see stomach upset or you may even see that he eventually doesn't eat the kibble. Try it and see how it goes, the important thing is what works for you and your dog. Best of luck to you.

Judy

[German Vanegas]

Originally posted by Deborah Reid
I "think" I saw German mention that he feeds a kibble during the week and BARF on the weekends, but I wondered how peoples experience has been doing a combined diet like this.
Thanks for the input :)

What I do is I feed "Canidae" during weekdays, and prepare homemade natural raw meals for my dogs on week-ends. I don't use BARF, but nutritious healthy recipes from a couple of holistic diet books for canines. So, I don't think that my method of feeding amounts to 50/50 but to a 70/30 ratio. However, it works terrific for me, and it shows in my dogs ;) :)

[Deborah Reid]

Thank you, and yes, I am concerned that they will be getting everything they need, and even though kibble is not the best for our dogs, it is nutritionally complete.
I have ordered both of Dr. Billinghursts books, plus a couple of others, as I am realy looking for one that will tell me "what" and "how much" nutrients are in each type of food.
I strongly believe in a good portion of common sence tempered with scientific data :D
I have already contacted our local butcher about getting meaty bones and left-over sweet meats etc. I do not have a juicer yet and wondered if anyone could recommend one?
I am hoping to be able to do the frozen patties for the vegie puree, and do more of a "stew meat" type thing with the meat.
I know I have alot of reading yet to do :)
I am also concerned with the raw egg issue and wondered if anyone knew anything about frozen pasturized raw eggs? If they would have the benefits without the possibility of negative affects.
And last question, for now :D , what are breeders thoughts about adding raw foods to a lactating dams diet?
Again, thank you all for your comments!

[Homerhomer]

Originally posted by German Vanegas


I don't use BARF, but nutritious healthy recipes from a couple of holistic diet books for canines. ;) :)

Could you post an example or a general overview of the receipes. I am curious to know how much they differ from barf.
Thanks

[Homerhomer]

Deborah.
This is a good link if you want to know what exactly is in just about any type of food.
http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/cgi-bin/nut_search.pl
you type in banana, and you will get how much of everything is in it.
I personally recommend food processor not a juicer. I just bought one (don't remember the brand, but it sure wasn't expensive) and it cut the preparation time by at least half.
Eggs - I feed raw egg 2-3 times a week (including shell) and I know that many people do the same thing without any negative effects. Apparently dogs can deal with different bacteria including salmonella pretty well.
If you are interested in joining barf mailing list than this is a link
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BARF
Sure people on this list are bias towards barf, but you can learn a lot from some of them.

[Judy Chrusch]

Hi Deborah,
It sounds like you have a real plan and you're doing the reading so what ever you choose, I'm sure will work out. As I've always said, not everything is for everyone, not to mention not all dogs are willing to eat what some others do. Czar absolutley loves his fruit and he'd die for a banana, LOL, which he has to have each and everyday and he loves his smoothies made with plain yogurt and blueberries and or rasberries, yes he eats better then me :D As for the eggs, I'm struggling with that myself and I think I've decided to throw them in boiling water for 3-4 minutes which is what my one Holistic book suggests. In doing this I will still throw the shell in his food. As for a food processor, my blender works very well IMO there's no need to get a processor, plus they can run alot more money. Hope this helps.

Judy

[Homerhomer]

Originally posted by Judy Chrusch
As for a food processor, my blender works very well IMO there's no need to get a processor, plus they can run alot more money. Hope this helps.

Judy

lol, maybe what I bought isn't a food processor (I am a guy and some guys just don't know what's going on in the kitchen), I paid for it about $30US. So is it a food processor or not?lol
All I know is that with this thing I just throw in a carrot ... zoom... done. With my old juicer (maybe it isn't a juicer) I would chop the carrot, throw it in, ..zoom....gets stuck, mix it with a spoon. zoom.... stuck again.....

[Deborah Reid]

Ok so do I need to make them into mush or just blend them up? LOL I thought I had read that you really need to macerate vegies because dogs cannot digest and break down the individual cells of the plant?
Food processor ex: http://www.cooking.com/products/shprodde.asp?SKU=159725
blender ex: http://www.cooking.com/products/shprodde.asp?SKU=110634
juicer ex: http://www.cooking.com/products/shprodde.asp?SKU=108520
I hope that these links work :)
Which of the three is most preferred?

[Judy Chrusch]

Peter, you're too much:D you're right since you are JUST a guy, LOL, you probably don't really know what you have but hey, they both work well so whatever it is as long as it works that's great:D Oh and Peter, you wanted to know what recipes German was talking about, he mentioned a book that I ordered that you also might want to read, it's called.... Bone Appetite by Susan Anson. He said it has tons of recipes in it so I'm anxcious to get it.

Judy

[Barbara Surplus]

Peter, Peter, Peter, what will we do with you? Where can I send you a copy of the Sears catalogue? I'll need your phone number so I can talk you through the household appliance section... We'll probably find out you've been using a cheese grater all along (in case you weren't aware, men have quite a different way of explaining things... )
Barbara :D:D:D

[Homerhomer]

Originally posted by Barbara Surplus
Peter, Peter, Peter, what will we do with you? Where can I send you a copy of the Sears catalogue? I'll need your phone number so I can talk you through the household appliance section... We'll probably find out you've been using a cheese grater all along (in case you weren't aware, men have quite a different way of explaining things... )
Barbara :D:D:D

LOL LOL
This is just too funny.
OK, the final results came in, whatever I am using now is FOOD PROCESSOR, IT SAYS ON THE BOX.
.....and the thing I was using before, well let's not go there..lol...
I will sign off now and let you ladies continue making fun of me all you want lol

[Barbara Surplus]

Originally posted by Homerhomer

I will sign off now and let you ladies continue making fun of me all you want lol

Okey dokey! :D
Barbara