Never thought I'd be saying this.... Interested in feeding RAW. Questions?

RandE · 11-24-2012, 01:48 PM

Oh dear... I'm interested in feeding RAW. :S lol

I have a couple questions about it that I'm too lazy to search the forum for. haha

1. Cleansing/Sanitation: I have a 10 month old baby that is crawling everywhere and getting into everything. How does the area you feed your dog remain clean and germ- free? I would think having raw meat on a surface would cause a possible issue with Salmonella and other bacterium. I read about feeding your dog in it's crate which is possible, but how does the crate stay clean? Do you wipe it down after each feeding? I can just imagine my son crawling into the dog crate.... haha

2. How do you go about obtaining your meat for a reasonable price? Do you order it bulk/wholesale? Is it ok to get meat from a butcher that would be about to be thrown out? Or is that unhealthy for the dog?

3. How do you prepare the meals? Do you get a weeks worth out of the freezer and let it thaw? Do you feed frozen? How do you make sure it's edible in time for your dogs meal?

4. How important is a lot of variety? I live in BUFU and we do not have a lot of options as far as more "exotic" meats (lamb, quail, elk...etc.) Just to get a general idea what is the minimum number of types of animals to feed your dog so they get the right nutrition? (I'm not saying I will only feed the minimum if I choose to go this route- I'm just trying to gauge if it's even possible to feed her RAW based on the meat options available to me)

Thank you in advance!

RandE · 11-24-2012, 02:09 PM

5. How does RAW affect energy levels?

dawnybabe · 11-24-2012, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RandE

Oh dear... I'm interested in feeding RAW. :S lol

I have a couple questions about it that I'm too lazy to search the forum for. haha

1. Cleansing/Sanitation: I have a 10 month old baby that is crawling everywhere and getting into everything. How does the area you feed your dog remain clean and germ- free? I would think having raw meat on a surface would cause a possible issue with Salmonella and other bacterium. I read about feeding your dog in it's crate which is possible, but how does the crate stay clean? Do you wipe it down after each feeding? I can just imagine my son crawling into the dog crate.... haha

You can feed in crate and just wipe it down everytime after. Feed on a towel and pick it up after. I feed sometimes holding it depends if we have company over or not or keep them in one spot and wipe the floor with lysol wipes after.

2. How do you go about obtaining your meat for a reasonable price? Do you order it bulk/wholesale? Is it ok to get meat from a butcher that would be about to be thrown out? Or is that unhealthy for the dog?

I put out an ad and got Free meat off Kijiji or craigslist also butcher shops will give you bulk pricing good deal usually. I get most of my meats on sale at the grocery store but soon will be buying bigger freezer and Bulk as we will need more meat once our new puppy comes home in new year.

3. How do you prepare the meals? Do you get a weeks worth out of the freezer and let it thaw? Do you feed frozen? How do you make sure it's edible in time for your dogs meal?

I take the meat out the day before and let it defrost in sink overnight you can feed frozen if you forget to take it out.. Summertime i will give turkey necks & tripe frozen outside.

4. How important is a lot of variety? I live in BUFU and we do not have a lot of options as far as more "exotic" meats (lamb, quail, elk...etc.) Just to get a general idea what is the minimum number of types of animals to feed your dog so they get the right nutrition? (I'm not saying I will only feed the minimum if I choose to go this route- I'm just trying to gauge if it's even possible to feed her RAW based on the meat options available to me)

I feed 4 proteins which is recommended minimum after the transition to them all as it agrees with there tummys.. Than ADD organs last.

Chicken
Turkey
Beef
Pork
Liver, heart, kidney
Fish too but my guys react to it so they get salmon capsules & vit E instead.

I have fed lamb & deer but it was given free.

Old freezer burnt old stuff from people wont hurt them either. Make sure all meats fed are NOT seasoned just plain plain!!

Hope this helped

Sent from my iPhone using Petguide.com Free App

Ril-Mas · 11-24-2012, 02:16 PM

Yay!

1. I feed Logan his chicken legs on a towel in my bedroom. I have a tile portion of flooring which is where he eats. When he's done, towell goes into the wash. I also do a quick wipe job with some antibacterial spray. Abby eats in her crate, also on a towel. She stays on the towel, but I still wipe down the crate with the spray. So far no issues.

If you're really concerned about it, do you have any portion of the house that you could close off and designate as the feeding area? Or even perhaps in the bathroom where it's such a small space that cleaning would be easier?

You should know that kibble also contains salmonella which could make you or your baby sick. There have been lots of recalls lately because of it. The same amount of care should be used feeding either food.

2. Yes, you can get scraps from the butcher even if it's expired. I don't know the max number of days it can be expired and still safe, but I've fed chicken that was 2-3 days past with no problem. I'm currently buying my meats at our supermarket which is very expensive. I just got my freezer chest which will solely be for dog food. This week I'll be placing an order for some chicken legs and turkey necks in bulk qtys from a local poultry supplier for a lot less than my supermarket. I'm still researching to find a source for red meats. A lot of people will look at Cragslits or Kijjii (not sure if I spelled that right) to find meat too. If you have any hunter friends you can ask them for scraps too. Since you're just starting to consider it, I would recommend that you start now making some phone calls around to meat/poultry packing plants to see what's available. There may even be some co-ops in your area that you could join.

3. When I feed mine breakfast, I take out dinner to thaw. When I feed dinner, I take out breakfast to thaw. It's usually thawed out completely in time for meal time, but it is possible to feed frozen too. I prefer not to (I worry it might do damage to their teeth), but a lot of people do it with no problem. It's even recommended to feed frozen to dogs who inhale their food. It slows them down in most cases and forces them to learn to chew.

4. Variety is very important. This diet is based on variety and the balance over time that it offers. I believe 4 is the bare minimum of protein sources. I'm personally aiming for 6 or 7 mattering on pricing. Right now I'm feeding chicken, turkey, beef and pork. Eventually I'm hoping to add bison, lamb, and fish.

5. It's said that feeding raw will increase activity levels.

dyson · 11-25-2012, 08:35 AM

Here's a "safety" tip I use & I'm apparently not the only one: I've heard a couple of old-timer raw feeders do it too: I feed them their raw outside on the grass; have been doing so for half a year now. We have a fenced-in large backyard & I simply take the raw food for the morning meal & they pick it up & eat in there. No mess to contend with & no food safety issues. For dinner, they are still eating their Acana or Orijen with a touch of the freeze-dried raw on top...but boy do they really LOVE their morning meal!

RandE · 11-29-2012, 01:12 AM

Thanks for the feed back! I have a lot of research to do before any decisions are made. How does RAW impact energy levels? Is it common to feed 1 or 2 meals per day? Or I should say WHICH is more common. Lol.

I would feed meals outside during the summer, but 5-6 months out of the year its too cold to spend more than a few minutes out there. So the cleanliness issue would pop up during the winter. I guess it wouldn't be so bad to feed her in her crate and then wipe down the bottom with a clorox wipe or something...

KarmaDestiny · 11-29-2012, 04:04 AM

From what I have read, if you have a dog, not a puppy, you can get away with one meal a day. I have also heard some do two meals a day. Some will do better with two.

I have two puppies that are 7 months and 16 weeks which i switched to raw since coming home. The 16 week old still has 3 meals a day and my 7 month is down to 2 a day. I think she does quite well with two and will probably continue to feed 2 a day.

Variety is key, but look around and ask lots of questions. Some places will offer wholesale prices if you buy in bulk and once transitioned completely then the variety can come from muscle meat and organ. For instance, I can get beef fairly cheap and lamb is expensive, unless i buy the organs or heart so that would count as a different meat from chicken, turkey, pork and/or beef.

I feed both of mine on towels and usually replace every other day, depending on if they make a mess. I always wash their faces afterwards with a baby wipe. If they do make a mess eating i will get the cleaner out.

I highly reccomend a deep freezer as it makes it easier to buy in bulk. Do some more research, ask questions and stock up on chicken as the first 3-4 weeks you will be feeding a lot of chicken.

Once they get the hang of it, meals only take a couple minutes for them, so it could still be possible to feed outside.

Sent from my iPhone using Petguide.com Free App

11-24-2012, 01:48 PM	#1 (permalink)
RandE Power User Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: WI Posts: 337	Never thought I'd be saying this.... Interested in feeding RAW. Questions? Oh dear... I'm interested in feeding RAW. :S lol I have a couple questions about it that I'm too lazy to search the forum for. haha 1. Cleansing/Sanitation: I have a 10 month old baby that is crawling everywhere and getting into everything. How does the area you feed your dog remain clean and germ- free? I would think having raw meat on a surface would cause a possible issue with Salmonella and other bacterium. I read about feeding your dog in it's crate which is possible, but how does the crate stay clean? Do you wipe it down after each feeding? I can just imagine my son crawling into the dog crate.... haha 2. How do you go about obtaining your meat for a reasonable price? Do you order it bulk/wholesale? Is it ok to get meat from a butcher that would be about to be thrown out? Or is that unhealthy for the dog? 3. How do you prepare the meals? Do you get a weeks worth out of the freezer and let it thaw? Do you feed frozen? How do you make sure it's edible in time for your dogs meal? 4. How important is a lot of variety? I live in BUFU and we do not have a lot of options as far as more "exotic" meats (lamb, quail, elk...etc.) Just to get a general idea what is the minimum number of types of animals to feed your dog so they get the right nutrition? (I'm not saying I will only feed the minimum if I choose to go this route- I'm just trying to gauge if it's even possible to feed her RAW based on the meat options available to me) Thank you in advance! __________________ -Allie mox·ie [mok-see] noun Slang 1.vigor; verve; pep. 2.courage and aggressiveness; nerve. 3.skill; know-how.

11-24-2012, 02:09 PM	#2 (permalink)
RandE Power User Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: WI Posts: 337	5. How does RAW affect energy levels? __________________ -Allie mox·ie [mok-see] noun Slang 1.vigor; verve; pep. 2.courage and aggressiveness; nerve. 3.skill; know-how.

11-24-2012, 02:16 PM	#4 (permalink)
Ril-Mas Super User Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Bedford, NH Posts: 1,503	Yay! 1. I feed Logan his chicken legs on a towel in my bedroom. I have a tile portion of flooring which is where he eats. When he's done, towell goes into the wash. I also do a quick wipe job with some antibacterial spray. Abby eats in her crate, also on a towel. She stays on the towel, but I still wipe down the crate with the spray. So far no issues. If you're really concerned about it, do you have any portion of the house that you could close off and designate as the feeding area? Or even perhaps in the bathroom where it's such a small space that cleaning would be easier? You should know that kibble also contains salmonella which could make you or your baby sick. There have been lots of recalls lately because of it. The same amount of care should be used feeding either food. 2. Yes, you can get scraps from the butcher even if it's expired. I don't know the max number of days it can be expired and still safe, but I've fed chicken that was 2-3 days past with no problem. I'm currently buying my meats at our supermarket which is very expensive. I just got my freezer chest which will solely be for dog food. This week I'll be placing an order for some chicken legs and turkey necks in bulk qtys from a local poultry supplier for a lot less than my supermarket. I'm still researching to find a source for red meats. A lot of people will look at Cragslits or Kijjii (not sure if I spelled that right) to find meat too. If you have any hunter friends you can ask them for scraps too. Since you're just starting to consider it, I would recommend that you start now making some phone calls around to meat/poultry packing plants to see what's available. There may even be some co-ops in your area that you could join. 3. When I feed mine breakfast, I take out dinner to thaw. When I feed dinner, I take out breakfast to thaw. It's usually thawed out completely in time for meal time, but it is possible to feed frozen too. I prefer not to (I worry it might do damage to their teeth), but a lot of people do it with no problem. It's even recommended to feed frozen to dogs who inhale their food. It slows them down in most cases and forces them to learn to chew. 4. Variety is very important. This diet is based on variety and the balance over time that it offers. I believe 4 is the bare minimum of protein sources. I'm personally aiming for 6 or 7 mattering on pricing. Right now I'm feeding chicken, turkey, beef and pork. Eventually I'm hoping to add bison, lamb, and fish. 5. It's said that feeding raw will increase activity levels. __________________ Mandy, loving mom to... ~~> We're on FACEBOOK if you want to Friend us, click here!

11-29-2012, 01:12 AM	#6 (permalink)
RandE Power User Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: WI Posts: 337	Thanks for the feed back! I have a lot of research to do before any decisions are made. How does RAW impact energy levels? Is it common to feed 1 or 2 meals per day? Or I should say WHICH is more common. Lol. I would feed meals outside during the summer, but 5-6 months out of the year its too cold to spend more than a few minutes out there. So the cleanliness issue would pop up during the winter. I guess it wouldn't be so bad to feed her in her crate and then wipe down the bottom with a clorox wipe or something... __________________ -Allie mox·ie [mok-see] noun Slang 1.vigor; verve; pep. 2.courage and aggressiveness; nerve. 3.skill; know-how. Last edited by RandE; 11-29-2012 at 01:13 AM. Reason: year not teat- darn auto correct -.-

11-25-2012, 08:35 AM	#5 (permalink)
dyson Experienced User Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 251	Here's a "safety" tip I use & I'm apparently not the only one: I've heard a couple of old-timer raw feeders do it too: I feed them their raw outside on the grass; have been doing so for half a year now. We have a fenced-in large backyard & I simply take the raw food for the morning meal & they pick it up & eat in there. No mess to contend with & no food safety issues. For dinner, they are still eating their Acana or Orijen with a touch of the freeze-dried raw on top...but boy do they really LOVE their morning meal!

11-29-2012, 04:04 AM	#7 (permalink)
KarmaDestiny Power User Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Hamilton, Ontario CANADA Posts: 526	From what I have read, if you have a dog, not a puppy, you can get away with one meal a day. I have also heard some do two meals a day. Some will do better with two. I have two puppies that are 7 months and 16 weeks which i switched to raw since coming home. The 16 week old still has 3 meals a day and my 7 month is down to 2 a day. I think she does quite well with two and will probably continue to feed 2 a day. Variety is key, but look around and ask lots of questions. Some places will offer wholesale prices if you buy in bulk and once transitioned completely then the variety can come from muscle meat and organ. For instance, I can get beef fairly cheap and lamb is expensive, unless i buy the organs or heart so that would count as a different meat from chicken, turkey, pork and/or beef. I feed both of mine on towels and usually replace every other day, depending on if they make a mess. I always wash their faces afterwards with a baby wipe. If they do make a mess eating i will get the cleaner out. I highly reccomend a deep freezer as it makes it easier to buy in bulk. Do some more research, ask questions and stock up on chicken as the first 3-4 weeks you will be feeding a lot of chicken. Once they get the hang of it, meals only take a couple minutes for them, so it could still be possible to feed outside. Sent from my iPhone using Petguide.com Free App

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