B.A.R.F. 101

[Misskiwi67]

Here you go: https://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?hl=en&pli=1&formkey=dE0wYU96cHk1LU84SzZZQUVqUWJTTkE6MQ#gid=0

At least someone is trying to do what YOU and I wish a major university would. (Although, who knows...maybe it is a part of a dissertation proposal. One can only hope.

Yep, I hope that day is coming... we need something better than surveys, because on a scientific basis, surveys are pretty crummy, and easily weighted by opinion.

[wbee]

oh my gosh, I finally finished this thread.

I'm very new, about 3 weeks in, but I've done quite a bit of research and feel like I have a handle on things. I do think I am feeding too much.. the other day my girl was acting hungry so I gave her more.. she ended up eating around 3/4 a whole chicken (plus liver). She doesn't look like she's put on weight (think I've been feeding her close to 2.5-3lbs a day ). We've not been very active lately, as there had been a huge snow storm and unrelenting rain for 2 weeks, she must have a fast metabolism. FTR she's about 65lbs and 1.5 years old.

Anyway, it's been really great learning all sorts of things and getting to know what animals/parts to feed. I haven't found any great sources of animal products yet, other than my brother-in-law (big hunter, he just gave me 4 big grocery bags full of venison/elk/fish that he didn't want), but I'm looking. Going to pick up an order of beef heart/oxtails/can't remember what else from a butch, that does their own slaughter, on Friday. i've also got the address of an Asian market (thanks to the guy who did my nails and the high hmung population here) to search for chicken feet or whatever else.

[Lex&Lily]

How do you transition into this diet? Cold turkey?

[El_EmDubya]

Yes. Go BIG, or go home.

Raw is not for sissies.

LMW (IMHO...Raw should be called "custom feeding"...)

[Lex&Lily]

Yes. Go BIG, or go home.

Raw is not for sissies.

LMW (IMHO...Raw should be called "custom feeding"...)

Will there be tummy issues at first? I wasn't sure it it Is like switching from one brand of kibble to the next - being your slowly suppose to integrate the new food in with old.

I take the raw transition is a completely different scenario?

[El_EmDubya]

Fast for 24 hours, then feed ONE meat, preferably chicken.

Simple to start...varied later...

[Lex&Lily]

Fast for 24 hours, then feed ONE meat, preferably chicken.

Simple to start...varied later...

THX!

Do you think it's okay to continue inegrating raw with a little kibble? I've heard elsewhere this isn't good for their digestive track. But I've seen where otheres mix, high caliber canned food, yogurt & other various items w/ a high caliber kibble, made me wonder why not chopped raw meat as well?

The only reason I'm debating mixing the two is the vitamins & nourishment I get from my current kibble but I also want the moisture & natural health benefits of raw meat for my dogs.

[FBODGRL]

Raw and kibble process through the system at different rates. I wouldn't do raw and kibble....and most certainly not in one feeding. If you want to do both you have to feed it at separate meals and I would think it would still be an issue.

Raw provides plenty of nourishment.

[El_EmDubya]

Raw provides plenty of nourishment.

As a human who had to learn how to nourish my body...you do NOT have to worry about skipping specific nutrients for a week, a month... or so.

Look at a month as the "time frame" that you nourish his body. Just balance his/her diet over a month and you'll have nothing to worry about.

LMW

[KingofDiamonds]

Soo...im getting my puppy around the middle of january(itll be 8weeks old) and definetly want to neuter it in the summer time...i definetly want to feed it raw...but ive heard that on a raw diet the pups take a longer time to reach its full size and with kibble they go thru the growing spurts alot faster.and i would assume neutering it would also stunt the growth a little bit (maybe...im not shure)....soo i guess my question is should i feed raw to the puppy and get it neutered later on in life...maybe around 1.5-2 years old or feed it kibble and get it neutered 8-10 months old...looking forward to reading all your insights!...thnx.

[MkatUmich]

Could use some feedback on if i'm doing this properly. I wanted to introduce Gauge to raw without going all in. So the plan right now is to keep him on his TOTW 2X/day but three meals a week we will replace with raw. So i've been giving him chicken quarters or the equivalent and he has been doing well on them, chews the bones. You can't really get meat with organs around here, nothing but supermarkets so I bought some beef kidneys and just gave him the whole kidney today, figured that was his organ meat for the week. So far no problems, he hasn't gotten sick. Should I be portioning the kidney out? Should I be mixing in some chicken livers? The things are just so disgusting and smell so bad I wasn't big on cutting up a kidney and trying to store it.

[FBODGRL]

IMO kidney is the worst smelling organ! You can cut and portion when it is partially frozen. It is easier and cuts down on the smell. What type of kidney did you feed?

I give a small amount daily or my boy gets cannon butt! You can usually get beef liver at most grocery stores. Organ should be 50% liver. So you need to feed it from some animal.

[MkatUmich]

IMO kidney is the worst smelling organ! You can cut and portion when it is partially frozen. It is easier and cuts down on the smell. What type of kidney did you feed?

I give a small amount daily or my boy gets cannon butt! You can usually get beef liver at most grocery stores. Organ should be 50% liver. So you need to feed it from some animal.

I think i'll pick up some chicken livers next time i'm at the store, I think they are pretty cheap. The beef kidney was over a lb and I just gave Gauge the whole thing. He seemed to do ok, though I didn't follow him around outside so I couldn't say for sure. He did throw up but that wasn't until more then 24 hours and two kibble meals later so i'm not convinced they are related. Probably better to cut the kidney up and refreeze it though and parcel out small frozen bits in the future mixed with liver.

[Shutterwolf]

my friend used to work for this company in the bay area, and he feeds it to his husky mix and she loves it. she has food allergies so not much she can have, but this is great for her and she does very well on it.

[Bambina23]

I think we are ready to take the plunge... after reading this thread and doing my homework with a few more sites.. i feel fairly confident in making a go at it... stay tuned for questions