Raw Diet (Dogs & Cats)

[halo]

This is the Yahoo group I belong to:

http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/rawfeeding/

There is an incredible amount of information posted daily. I get the digest format, since it is a busy group. Ive never posted on it, but I do read it daily. My puppies insist on it.

 

[Grace]

I to am an advocate for raw feeding. It takes a little extra time to prepare but it is worth it. I do raw meaty bones as a majorty of the diet follwed by muscle meat. . When I travel I bring a box of Honest Kitchen raw dehydrated pet food so I don't have to worry about the raw meat mess. Dogs saliva does not have the amylase enzyme like humans to break down the starch so it tends to stick to their teeth causing plaque and tarter build up. One of the many benefits to raw grain free diets is the fresh breath and clean teeth. Dogs have a special enzyme in their saliva called lysozyme that kills bacteria. Something humans do not have. They also have a way more acidic stomach than ours allowing for them to digest bone(raw only) easily and again kill bacteria. There are so many physilogical reasons to feed raw grain free. There system is not made for digesting carbs and grains. It functions way more effeciently with raw meats and limited grains and carbs IMO.

 

[Wifezilla]

While I advocate it, I realize not everyone can do it. In my case, my 20 year old cat is NOT THE LEAST BIT INTERESTED. I figure she made it to 20 on kibble, so I can't really complain. I did switch them to a low carbohydrate/high protein/grain free food a few year back. Our really fat cat lost weight. She is still fat, but she is no longer enormous

 

[Le Canard de Barbarie]

For me, it is a great way to use the carcasses left over from processing my meat ducks. I usually chop it up with a clever, and mix it with her Diamond Lamb & Rice kibble. Yes, is is really just a bunch of skin, fat, bones and a little meat, but the LGD sure enjoys it. Winters are hard and long in the Michigan Upper Peninsula, and she can use the calories.

 

[pardygwyn]

Dogs, ducks and chickens make for great disposal systems.

I don't completely raw feed, but I do supplement with farm scraps and if there's any better dog tooth cleaner than poultry feet and bones, I've yet to find it!

 

[Crazyland]

We used to do 100% but then we moved and our sources are not easy to come by here so now it is supplemented.
An easy book to read is Natural Nutrition for Dogs and Cats.