Questions for raw feeders

[Anna]

Thanks for all the input everyone.    We have decided to switch to raw and so now we will just get our little ducks in a row, lol.
We'll be starting with Darwin and then adding Ada onto raw when her bag of kibble is used up.  I gave them each a 1/2 of a raw patty today that was part of a sample/starter kit I got at Bones and they both loved it.  AND, believe it or not it was Turkey and Darwin had no reaction!  The lady at Bones said that she would bet he wouldn't so I guess I owe her, lol!  I am flabbergasted.  I will need to figure out some way to help Darwin out with it though since his sample today was a bit of a fiasco, lol.  Ada had her bowl licked clean in under a minute.  Darwin's took 10 minutes with many pauses so that I could spoon stuff around to help him out, and he splattered bits all over the place.   So I think a tray and perhaps a special shape of bowl are in order for him so he can manage to eat raw without me crouched beside him with spoon at the ready.

Does anyone have brand advice?  I'm looking at Healthy Paws and a few others.

[Kathy]

I have tried a couple of brands with Huey and so far so good he has not had any trouble with any of them. He was a bit messy the first day or so but is much neater now so maybe darwin will improve too.

Huey was already on canned when i switiched him to raw, he never had any stomach upsets at all. I just look for the ones that have a mix - meat, veggies and fruit so his diet is complete.

[blanche]

Anna:
I don't know what kind of feeding bowl you use, but this is what I've done for Tank--who because of his incredibly flat face can have issues with raw.  I bought a very shallow, wide bowl for cats and elevated it so that he doesn't have to put his head down to eat and doesn't have to mash his face into the bowl to get to the food.  It's really helped.  He's still a messy eater so he eats on a boot tray.  I'll try to get a picture of my arrangement for you.

[lmcpug]

pugsley also eats up higher these days as well.
a la moi

we tried a flat dish, bought several styles but found
Pugsley need upright. Sides to push against in order
To "scoop" his food!
so went back to metal bowls with more of an upright
sides rather than flared out!
 
I hold it for several reasons, thieves abound in this home
since said "young offender" came to be Bubba used to be
fairly curtious with Pugsley but the gauntlet came off when
he got competition
Plus I haven't got around to making stands for Pugsleys
dishes!
   
   

 

[Sammers]

I've tried Sami on the Nature's Variety Rabbit, and no go, she started to smell like eggs. It is loaded with eggs, so I switched to Pets4Life Rabbit, she did a lot better. I am in the middle of coming up with a different diet with the rabbit with other oils and veggies. I think she would do better with a more home made approach to raw. But, Sami has horrific allergies to a lot of things.
If Darwin is doing well on the Turkey, you could stick with that, or try other brands. It's all trial in error I have found.
Odie can tolerate pretty much anything it seems.

[Pugpillow]

LOL - sounds like you've dived right in.  Join the ranks of those astounded about the pugs' positive reaction to raw.  Wait till you're astounded about the health benefits.

I always preach about weaning them onto raw to avoid tummy upsets but the truth of the matter is that I've switched many dogs cold-turkey (pardon the pun) with no ill effects. 

Like others, I use separate cutting boards for the dogs and for humans but I do put their dishes and cutting boards in the dishwasher with ours.  I figure the high temperatures will kill anything.

I have found that oblong ceramic dishes (the kind used for casseroles - like this only from the dollar store http://www.wasserstrom.com/restaurant-supplies-equipment/Product_405238) work well because they are shallow and long. 

The only time I don't let them kiss/lick me is after they have eaten green tripe - yuck!

As for food intolerance, Mei-Ling had a very sensitive tummy (in her pre-raw kibble days as well) and she projectile vomited on some of the commercial raw and also on raw beef.  Denver refuses to eat raw sardines - I don't blame him because I don't like sardines either.  I'm suspecting he has developed an intolerance to turkey (I'm still testing this).   But these are individual intolerances and dislikes, just like we humans have to certain foods. 

Re Darwin's minimal water consumption, add water to his raw food.  Mine get both meals drenched in water now.

Anna - do you have one hour a month to spare?  That's all it takes to prepare 6 weeks worth of Breakfast Slop for 2 dogs.  And it's a hellavu lot cheaper than buying premade patties.

[lmcpug]

so true that it only takes. minimal amt of input to raw food prep
for weeks of enjoyment by the pugs and also sooo much cheaper!

I put away 4 months. of home prepared ground chicken because
it was at No Frills for $1.00 days took mom and I; one day and
cost me approx. $64.00 that's 2 meals/day for 4 months!
It will take us one more day to put veggies down as well and again
I gather approx. $60.00 worth of veggies and fruit mix!
     
So for 4 months I've spent approx. $124.00 on three pugs!
Triple that for bags of kibble!

I've seen Hilary make her Breakfast Slop and it takes no time
at all using everyday appliances!