What Do You Feed?

[jai]

Hi Nina and Magda,
I feed about the same as Nina does with Falko, he gets his Eukanuba dry one meal and then I supplement from there. When I have gone to Wolfgangs house, his wife has fed Falko a complete apple halved, one for him and one for Calli, which I still feed him, he loves the green ones. Also, when we have veggies for dinner, he has them as well. I used to give him baby food, like jars of veggies and mixed dinners, he still likes those too, but now they are a treat! he really enjoys baby pears, bananas and what is called Hawaiian Delight. The last time we went to the woods, he found and ate a mouse, whole. After I saw Calli do this it does not phase me anymore. When we have meat for dinner, I will throw him a few pieces as I am dicing and slicing before I add any seasonings.
as Nina said.. no one will feed the exact same, but try what you think is best, the baby food Falko really liked and that was one way to get veggies. On the last note, I give him an egg every few days, but not raw, I read somewhere that it is bad for the dog. anyways I beat it and add some water to it and toss it in the micro for a couple of minutes, after it cools, it is perfect for him!
jai and falko

[Locco]

Thanks Jai for you pieces of advice

Magda&Blaster

[ryanatc]

I feed my Girl Purina Pro Plan - Lamb and Rice. When it is hunting and training seasons I switch to Purina Pro Plan Performance and Nutro Performance mix. Also, when I feed I add water which seems to help the absobtion of the food which = less fecal waste (to clean up).

Carrotts are a great training snack / reward for her. Not to many then we have a gassy dog to deal with! LOL

[Locco]

Do you think that if I pour some hot freshly boiled water on the raw meat for a minute let's say, to kill the bacteria I also kill nutritions?

Magda&Blaster

[greyghost]

I don't think it would kill bacteria. Something would have to be brought to temperature and cooked right through to do this I think.

I stopped boiling the kettle and using it to warm up kibble and wet food (make a gravy) with Holly as I heard it killed the nutrition.

I would just freeze the meat if I were you.

[Locco]

hi greyhost, thank you very much for this info. But how long should I freeze it to kill bacteria?
What do you think? I will stop using the hot water then.

Ragards
MAgda&Blaster

[greyghost]

Three weeks for pork. The other meats read this from this web site: www.barfworld.com/html/barf_diet/product_care.shtml

Keeping your BARF DIET™ Fresh and Wholesome
Some people are worried by bacteria in raw food. They believe bacteria will make their dog sick. However, dogs have evolved to eat and thrive on food that may have bacteria present. The dog being a scavenger, thrives on the presence of microbes in his or her food. Wild dogs eat the gut contents of their prey, and the feces of many different animals. They also eat soil, contaminated meat, buried bones, infected meat and so on. These are all a source of microbes and any toxins they might produce.

Raw meat does of course carry bacteria. However, the presence of bacteria does not mean that disease will result! It would be impossible to guarantee that any meat source, for human or animal consumption, be totally sterile of all bacteria. Even in the most sanitary of manufacturing facilities or the most spotless kitchens there is a possibility that bacterial contamination may be present. Certain conditions have to exist in order for bacteria to multiply to a point where their numbers are capable of causing disease. Plus, those bacteria will have to be very specific strains that are capable of producing disease.

[greyghost]

This is interesting as I am taking ACV at the moment too:

What is ACV and what are some of it's benefits?

ACV stands for Apple Cider Vinegar. Of the 22 minerals essential for health, apple cider vinegar contains 19 in exactly the right amounts. *Some* of these minerals are potassium, phosphorus, sodium, magnesium, sulphur, iron, copper, silicon and pectin. ACV also contains natural malic and tartaric acids which are important in fighting body toxins and inhibiting unfriendly bacteria. There are claims that the additional acidity of ACV helps the digestion process. Many dogs like the taste of it, and it even makes the RMBs smell less raw meaty-like. Many people soak the RMBs in ACV prior to feeding, to aide with the digestion of bones. Remember in chemistry class, soaking a raw bone in vinegar? It turned rubbery! hummmm..some food for thought for those of you afraid of splintering bones. Again, the option to use ACV is purely another personal choice...some do and some don't. Oh, a teaspoon of ACV (daily) in your dog's food also removes tear stains (for those with very light-colored dogs). Results are usually begun to be seen in 7 to 10 days.

from here: www.njboxers.com/faqs.htm#ACV

[greyghost]

findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FKA/is_6_67/ai_n13788104

Open for discussion me finks..........hmmm

Wish I hadn't found it now

[Locco]

Hi greyghost,
thank you for the info and the advice about ACV. I have read the article from the link that you've posted on your last post. I have to admit honestly I'm a bit confused now and don't know what to do. What kind of diet I should choose as I'm afraid of doing some kind of harm to my beloved dog.

Any other opinions about it? What do you think?

P.S. Blaster had a diarrhoea today. He's ok now but I think I have given him too much of "new" things to eat at a time (raw meat, raw carrot and parsley root with natural yoghurt, an egg). Or maybe it was because of something else? After reading this article I'm more anxious and worried about changing Blaster's diet on BARF diet.

Magda&Blaster

[greyghost]

I know it is a lot to take in all at once. That is why I do it the safe way and buy in the raw packs www.prizechoice.co.uk/. I am not that good at giving my girl bones except in the form of the odd chicken wing so the Prize Choice foods are ideal as some of them have the bone ground down with it. If you could find something like that locally or even better something with the veg added too, life would be a lot easier.

As for the runs now. Yes you may have introduced things a bit too quickly but he will soon get used to it. Try using a pro-biotic with the raw food as it will help him to built up the stomach bugs. Also it is important to keep the stomach bugs fed with a pre-biotic. Banana is good for this. I know some dogs that eat the skins too, Abbie used to.

www.wordspy.com/words/prebiotics.asp

Also don't forget he could detox.

[jai]

Hi Les,
thanks for the tip on the on the stomache bugs.. Falko likes his bananas, mashed ofcourse, or eating from my hand. Lots of good information you have.. I have read with interest and am thinking of adding a couple of things to his diet, perhaps the kelp. When we lived in Italy several of my friends ate fried algae and swore by it, one of my friends would bring some home for her dog. Have you heard anything about that?
jai and falko

[greyghost]

I know nothing about fried Algae and after a quick look on the web I am none the wiser. Am always open to new suggestions.

Here is a link re kelp: www.thedogbowl.com/PPF/category_ID/0_71/dogbowl.asp

Another thing I do quite often is give Holly a whole raw egg. I use a pestle and mortar to crush the egg shell very, very finely. It is a good source of calcium.

[Locco]

Greyghost, thank you very much for your precious pieces of advice and for the links! I think it wasn't detox but too much too soon. I came back to giving him only chicken wings for now and so far it's ok. I have to be more careful. However the next day after the run he didn't even want to touch the chicken wings as if he unconsciously knew that his upset tummy had something to do with them. I managed to convince him to try them again the next day and he seemed to like them again and even more than before as he ate 3! He feels ok so I think I'll slowly try to introduce some other things. However I think the problem were raw vegetables. He has never tried them before- only the cooked ones. I've decided to cook them for him but on steam so as not to lose the nutrtions. I know that in my nearby animal shop they sell packages of meat grounded together with bones. It's veal. Those packages are frozen but I'm not sure whether it's a reliable source and that's why I would be afraid of giving it raw to Blaster. Especially that they are not said to be special food that can be given to dogs uncooked- the saleslady rather assumes that everybody cooks food for his/her dog.
Thank you very much for your help!

P.S. Jai, I have never heard about fried algae

Regards
Magda&Blaster

[marjolein]

I BARF my dogs. I feed them everything raw I can get them hands on. From poultry to beef to even pork. I never worry about bugs and stuff like that and they are never ill.

[jean]

What interesting reading and very informative too.

I'm one of the peeps who like to feed everything and anything within reason for my dogs, from tinned to BARF, complete to homemade. I work on the premis that overall they are getting a balanced diet without the need for supplements. For the dogs I've had from pups it was from word go, for my rescues they were gradually introduced and never a problem. It also has the advantage that when on holiday I can feed what is available..bearing in mind storage...not every hotel / cottage has huge storage facilities for two dogs.

I thank my lucky stars that having owned six Weims I've never had a bloat, never had to have anal glands done and rarely visit my vet for food / digestive problems, their waste is solid.

I agree with Nina's last comment...if it works for you and your dog/s then that is the right way for you. I often liken rearing dogs to rearing children. I don't know of any mother who worries as much about feeding a child as we do about feeding our dogs...huge big smile...as no malice is intended.

[Rachel]

I have got to say I feed just about anything to my dogs, and they seem to tolerate all foods pretty well, having hard stools from am to pm. They will eat raw foods, as well as Arden Grange complete foods. I get on pretty well with just about everything.

Rachel

[emma]

I also give my dogs pretty much all kind of food without any problems. They get raw chicken wings, raw bones, all kinds of vegetables raw, complete dog food (Royal canin or Nutra Nuggets), any leftovers etc.
No problems with stomachs, no allergies and coats are great.
I also never worry about bugs or stuff, never had a problem with that.

[europeword]

I only use raw food and veggies. My dog also has meat from time to time.
I think I'll make sure my dog will follow a diet shortly.

[wrranch]

We feed lil' Dieter Taste of the Wild puppy chow. He also gets raw meat daily. We're happy that he's doing so well.