[Aurora_Bell]

So, lately I have been trying to switch Lady (my 5 year staffy boxer mix) over to a total raw diet. Right now we are doing holistic dry and BARF.

I found this article, and though it was a good read.

Any one up for a **civil** discussion on dog food?

I am not talking commercial brands here, I mean the pro's and con's with BARF/RAW and a fine quality dog food.

The Way of the Wolf – The Ideal Diet for Dogs

[twinkiedooter]

My Russian friend has a purebred wolf and feeds her wolf "Lady" nothing but raw meat and no dog food. Her godfather has 2 wolves and one likes dog biscuits but both eat meat as their main diet. She brushes Lady's teeth on a regular basis as well as her godfather's wolves teeth with a toothbrush. (Yes, they do put up with this).

As long as you feel comfortable feeding your beloved pet raw meat then go for it.

The article is dead wrong about wild boars. Lady eats wild boar and the 2 other wolves happily eat wild boar when then can. They adore it. Don't know where the author to that article lives but he sure as heck doesn't live in Russia with all the wild boar available over there. And yes, the wolves in the wild in Russia eat wild boar all the time. Geesh. Can't believe anything you read nowadays if you know better. And Lady eats cow meat happily as it is plentiful. I think that guy needs to read up a bit more on "modern" wolves before writing that article.

And as for feeding all the other veggies and fruits and grains to house dogs... all I can say is good luck to that as my Dink loves certain veggies but in very, very small porportions and not as an every day thing either. One day she'll eat peaches and the next day turn her nose up at them. I wouldn't waste a whole lot of time "cooking" for Dink when she gets along just fine with kibble and "people food" left overs that she begs for.

[Aurora_Bell]

Well I have been at the center of a much heated debate whether it's okay to feed your dogs wild game. I happen to live in a province where game is easily available. I don't normally feed deer meat, but they do get get raw deer bones. I do feed raw moose meat, but only after freezing for two months.

I've always been told by my vets that as long as you freeze the game at least two months this should kill any parasites.

I am pretty consitant with brushing their teeth, but Lady and Max LOVE the raw moose over the beef.

I don't feed them pork products of any kind, and the one thing I had concern with this one website was that it said it was okay to feed raisins and grains...

[Catsmine]

I will only say that I cannot join this discussion. I'm the resident proponent of commercial foods. Y'all have fun.

[Aurora_Bell]

Can we know what brand Cats?

[Aurora_Bell]

And please do join in, all is welcome. Any point of view is welcome. Always love to hear your thoughts...

[Catsmine]

Can we know what brand Cats?

Ol' Roy Premium.

Yeah, Wally world.

[Sariss]

I just wish there was more research done on certain premium diets, because I think they have a potential to get ahead in the game as far as with Vets go.
I don't know a lot about diets (and I don't claim to), I just know that some of the diets we sell at our practice HELP sooo much sometimes. (Animals liver/kidney values going back to normal after being on said diets, arthritis getting so much better on a joint diet, teeth looking amazing after being on a dental diet, cats doing good on urinary diets, then getting crystals if they change, etc).
One of the big companies of holistic foods needs to get in the game and get funding so they can do that kind of thing.
I think that's why vets tend to push towards certain foods (no they don't get incentives and/or free food), because of the extensive research done behind them to show how well they work.
That's my two cents. :) My parents Chihuahuas did great on RAW for a while. I feed my dog one of those 'crappy vet brands' because his skin is terrible on anything else (and trust me I've tried everything besides raw)

[shazamataz]

I know a fair bit about commercial diets, but honestly, I really know didly squat about raw.

I do feed raw meat, but have never fed a completely raw diet, I'm just too worried they aren't going to get the nutrients they need purely because I'm not adding the right ingredients.

If you have good information about what to feed (meat to veg ratios etc) then go for it, I believe it is a healthier alternative, and the dogs love it. I'm just not ready to make the jump.

I'm too used to listening to my mum about diet with the Great Danes... the food they are given when they grow up just has to be so precise it's hard to work out protein content and calcium ratios etc with a raw diet. Packaged food has it all written out for you.

[Aurora_Bell]

So true Shaz, and if I had a giant breed, I don't think I'd risk my hand at giving raw a go, how ever, I think I might have the diet down pat, as well some added nutrients and vitamins from vet at a very low cost. I think I am going to make that leap...

[Catsmine]

So true Shaz, and if I had a giant breed, I don't think I'd risk my hand at giving raw a go, how ever, I think I might have the diet down pat, as well some added nutrients and vitamins from vet at a very low cost. I think I am going to make that leap...

Keep us posted, please.

So far, the Hurricane is doing well. Coat, teeth, behaviour, appetite, energy levels, alertness: everything seems to be working. Next appointment isn't 'til Feb. so we'll see.

[twinkiedooter]

Forgot to mention that the Russian "tame" wolves eat fish particularly salmon or whatever they can get ahold of. They eat fish in the wild and just about anything they can come across such as rabbit, etc. If they are hungry enough they will eat it. My Dink adores sardines, salmon, etc.

I'm surprised that the author didn't include raw fish in his article as wolves do eat this in the wild. They stand on the fish to hold it down and knaws on it (when it's whole and alive). Lady does this all the time just like she would do in the wild.

[Aurora_Bell]

My Russian friend has a purebred wolf and feeds her wolf "Lady" nothing but raw meat and no dog food. Her godfather has 2 wolves and one likes dog biscuits but both eat meat as their main diet. She brushes Lady's teeth on a regular basis as well as her godfather's wolves teeth with a toothbrush. (Yes, they do put up with this).

As long as you feel comfortable feeding your beloved pet raw meat then go for it.

The article is dead wrong about wild boars. Lady eats wild boar and the 2 other wolves happily eat wild boar when then can. They adore it. Don't know where the author to that article lives but he sure as heck doesn't live in Russia with all the wild boar available over there. And yes, the wolves in the wild in Russia eat wild boar all the time. Geesh. Can't believe anything you read nowadays if you know better. And Lady eats cow meat happily as it is plentiful. I think that guy needs to read up a bit more on "modern" wolves before writing that article.

And as for feeding all the other veggies and fruits and grains to house dogs....all I can say is good luck to that as my Dink loves certain veggies but in very, very small porportions and not as an every day thing either. One day she'll eat peaches and the next day turn her nose up at them. I wouldn't waste a whole lot of time "cooking" for Dink when she gets along just fine with kibble and "people food" left overs that she begs for.

There were a lot of things in that article that I found funny. Also a tad contradictory. Especially about the grains and fruit. I mentioned that I didn't feed Lady pork, but I forgot about wild boar being pork (Duhhh, blonde moment), She does boar at times. My Lady is the same, one day she will eat a banana other days won't even look at it. To be honest Twinks, times are a little tough right now, and with the abundance of wild meat I can get my hands on, it's the best economical choice for me.

[Aurora_Bell]

Forgot to mention that the Russian "tame" wolves eat fish particularly salmon or whatever they can get ahold of. They eat fish in the wild and just about anything they can come across such as rabbit, etc. If they are hungry enough they will eat it. My Dink adores sardines, salmon, etc.

I'm surprised that the author didn't include raw fish in his article as wolves do eat this in the wild. They stand on the fish to hold it down and knaws on it (when it's whole and alive). Lady does this all the time just like she would do in the wild.

I thought I read that he said raw fish was a no no, which is another thing I found funny. My lady eats sardines, Salmon, cod, haddock and even smelts. Sometimes cooked sometimes raw. In anything I have researched and read I saw that fish is very good for dogs. I honestly think the author is a bit full of himself, that's why I opened up the discussion. :o

[Aurora_Bell]

Keep us posted, please.

So far, the Hurricane is doing well. Coat, teeth, behaviour, appetite, energy levels, alertness: everything seems to be working. Next appointment isn't 'til Feb., so we'll see.

Chloe looks amazing. Her coat looks soft and shiny. Just goes to show some dogs can do just fine on commercial brands while others can't. When I first got Lady she was being fed a mixture of Purina and Kirkland (A Costco brand), her skin was dry and flaky, she was itching like mad. I don't know if you remember but she was very skinny as well.

I let her finish what was given to me and introduced Iams to her, no improvements, so I slowly started feeding a local holistic brand. I couldn't believe the changes in her coat and appearance.

I will keep you posted, and when I am sure of the correct "dose" I will let you all know! :)

[Catsmine]

Chloe looks amazing. Her coat looks soft and shiny.

In the latest pics she even needs a bath.

[Aurora_Bell]

You would never know!

I saw a beautiful chocolate dobbie today. I never realized how striking they were. We don't get many of them in our shelters. I do see there is an active dobbie rescue here in Nova Scotia though.

[Catsmine]

You would never know!

I saw a beautiful chocolate dobbie today. I never realized how striking they were. We don't get many of them in our shelters. I do see there is an active dobbie rescue here in Nova Scotia though.

Chocolate? Would that be the dark red-brown (called Red) or the lighter buckskin colored (called Fawn) Dobie?

The Four Colors

[Aurora_Bell]

:o

I would say the red and rust.

[Catsmine]

:o

I would say the red and rust.

Like this guy?