Switched Our Dogs to Raw Food - Results

[1MOREMOD]

Cost probably becomes more of an issue when your dog's are larger than a cat

[upstatedoc]

I can't imagine what it would cost to feed my 80lb goldendoodle raw food

[1MOREMOD]

Yeah or my 160 lb bullmastiff, he has poops bigger than these dogs

[Red Bread]

I love my beagle, but my three year old would derail all the good will of this sort of shenanigan in an hour. She eats well, has no issues and as much as I know, is happy.

[DETRoadster]

Originally Posted by blbroo

We feed our dogs Fromms dry food aimed at their sizes and ages with some yogurt and salmon oil. They are all very healthy and one of them even uses a laptop.

Great pics!

[DETRoadster]

Originally Posted by 1MOREMOD

Cost probably becomes more of an issue when your dog's are larger than a cat

I'm sure there's high quality options out there for the budget-constrained. This might be a good resource for you: https://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/best-dog-foods/

[Red Bread]

Originally Posted by DETRoadster

I'm sure there's high quality options out there for the budget-constrained. This might be a good resource for you: https://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/best-dog-foods/

Yeah, I've always used five star rated foods. There are reasonably priced options out there.

[Joekerr]

Originally Posted by upstatedoc

I can't imagine what it would cost to feed my 80lb goldendoodle raw food

Well, I just ran it through a calculator and I'm not sure where they are getting there cost estimates from, but multiplying the lbs required by their actual listed cost in the shop section of their website, its about $260 / month to feed a 75 lb healthy Lab. Unsurprisingly, their calculator was estimating the cost at closer to $190/month, probably to hook you in.

So Moddie can just go ahead and at least double those costs for his mastiff.

I don't have that kind of scratch to feed my dog raw food. He can stay on Acana kibble.

[Red Bread]

That last part sort of defeats the purpose of a dog, doesn't it?

[DETRoadster]

Originally Posted by Incontinentia Buttocks

Just be aware that raw food will contain nasties such as ecoli and salmonella. Not a problem for a dog, but potentially fatal for a child and extremely unpleasant for an adult.

You won't want to go near a dogs mouth that's fed raw, or allow it to lick you

Yep. We handle the raw food just like we handle any raw meat that we would be consuming ourselves. Hand wash before, wash out scoops and dog bowl after with hot soapy water, then wash hands again. Keepin' it sanitary for everyone.

Thankfully neither of our dogs are big lickers. I'm a bit of a hypochondriac so I'm A-OK if neither of my dogs ever licks me. They seem fine with that too.

[upstatedoc]

Originally Posted by Joekerr

Well, I just ran it through a calculator and I'm not sure where they are getting there cost estimates from, but multiplying the lbs required by their actual listed cost in the shop section of their website, its about $260 / month to feed a 75 lb healthy Lab.

[Ralph335]

Might have to switch my two dogs over to a raw diet. Can't believe the issues with Acana/Orijen. Had no idea before seeing it on this thread. My older dog has been on Orijen his whole life and the puppy has been on Orijen puppy since we got him three months ago. Guess my boys are getting new food this weekend.

[Mr Carrots]

Originally Posted by Ralph335

Might have to switch my two dogs over to a raw diet. Can't believe the issues with Acana/Orijen. Had no idea before seeing it on this thread. My older dog has been on Orijen his whole life and the puppy has been on Orijen puppy since we got him three months ago. Guess my boys are getting new food this weekend.

Cost wise I think it's actually cheaper than commercial food for our guys, maybe $2 a day each in drumsticks and another dollar in eggs/offal/etc

[david in germany]

Originally Posted by Mr Carrots

Cost wise I think it's actually cheaper than commercial food for our guys, maybe $2 a day each in drumsticks and another dollar in eggs/offal/etc

My main meat for my pup was chicken necks, I was able to get them in 10kilo bags from a local butcher at the time. I would wrap and freeze them in serving sized ziplock bags. Occasionally I would mix it up with other chicken parts, beef and turkey.
Shop around and you can get good pricing if you put in a long term order.

[david in germany]

Originally Posted by Ralph335

Might have to switch my two dogs over to a raw diet. Can't believe the issues with Acana/Orijen. Had no idea before seeing it on this thread. My older dog has been on Orijen his whole life and the puppy has been on Orijen puppy since we got him three months ago. Guess my boys are getting new food this weekend.

Don't freak when they have diareah for a couple of days, they are clearing out the junk (think detox). Once they balance out the piles get little, and just consist of the calcium they didn't need. SO much easier to Pooper scoop up!

[Joekerr]

Originally Posted by upstatedoc

In fairness, I should probably state that was in Canadian dollars.

Originally Posted by david in germany

Don't freak when they have diareah for a couple of days, they are clearing out the junk (think detox). Once they balance out the piles get little, and just consist of the calcium they didn't need. SO much easier to Pooper scoop up!

Or you become like me and just leave it where it lies, since I have a decent sized lot, and I let my guests play a twisted version of Minecraft anytime they choose to step foot on my lawn...

[UncleWede]

^ I can only vouch for the safety of your loafers until you leave the cement. We have rubber boots you may trade if you wish to explore the garden or chicken coop

[xander_g]

Originally Posted by david in germany

Please research what is in the food you are feeding him. See my post just below this one ( comment about the Science diet food) I know you didn't mention the brand but be careful.

It's hill's i/d digestive care. Hill's is science diet I believe.

If I want another opinion on his nutrition, are there vets out there that specialize in certain breeds? Or are there dedicated canine nutritionists out there?

[RickFLM4]

Originally Posted by xander_g

It's hill's i/d digestive care. Hill's is science diet I believe.

If I want another opinion on his nutrition, are there vets out there that specialize in certain breeds? Or are there dedicated canine nutritionists out there?

There are vets that specialize in conditions (e.g. cardiology, dermatology, etc.), but not sure about breeds. From research and reading, I believe there are also canine or pet nutritionists, although I have never come across one.

[Lups]

Originally Posted by xander_g

It's hill's i/d digestive care. Hill's is science diet I believe.

If I want another opinion on his nutrition, are there vets out there that specialize in certain breeds? Or are there dedicated canine nutritionists out there?

Ha, I almost killed my liver malfunctioning dog with their food. My mom finished him off three years later with her epic "hunters stew" when they were at their summer home. "the dog seems sick, I've only given him the food you told me to give him and some fish and then some moose liver... Should I take him to the vet?"

I don't talk with my mom for multiple reasons.

[david in germany]

Originally Posted by xander_g

It's hill's i/d digestive care. Hill's is science diet I believe.

If I want another opinion on his nutrition, are there vets out there that specialize in certain breeds? Or are there dedicated canine nutritionists out there?

I started bolding the bad stuff but there is way too much to bold while on my iPad....
Ingredients
Brewers Rice, Corn Starch, Corn Gluten Meal, Whole Grain Wheat, Chicken By-Product Meal, Flaxseed, Cracked Pearled Barley, Whole Grain Oats, Dried Beet Pulp, Chicken Liver Flavor, Pork Flavor, Lactic Acid, Ginger, Soybean Oil, Dicalcium Phosphate, Potassium Citrate, Pork Fat, Potassium Chloride, Iodized Salt, Choline Chloride, . L-Lysine, vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (source of Vitamin C), Niacin Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin A Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin Supplement, Biotin, Folic Acid, Vitamin D3 Supplement), Calcium Carbonate, Taurine, minerals (Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Copper Sulfate, Mangano

[Lups]

Originally Posted by david in germany

I started bolding the bad stuff but there is way too much to bold while on my iPad....
Ingredients
Brewers Rice, Corn Starch, Corn Gluten Meal, Whole Grain Wheat, Chicken By-Product Meal, Flaxseed, Cracked Pearled Barley, Whole Grain Oats, Dried Beet Pulp, Chicken Liver Flavor, Pork Flavor, Lactic Acid, Ginger, Soybean Oil, Dicalcium Phosphate, Potassium Citrate, Pork Fat, Potassium Chloride, Iodized Salt, Choline Chloride, . L-Lysine, vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (source of Vitamin C), Niacin Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin A Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin Supplement, Biotin, Folic Acid, Vitamin D3 Supplement), Calcium Carbonate, Taurine, minerals (Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Copper Sulfate, Mangano

Hahaha, so true.

The really, really cheap stuff my Gs can handle has exactly two ingredients. European farmed lamb bits (so not only meat but no organs) and organic rice.

I've paid and hunted for food for my dogs for the last 20+ years and my current one only tolerates that brand. I fucking hate dogs.