[Poodle_Lvr]

I know it won't be getting a puppy for a couple of months but I want to have all the info I need prior to getting him. I've been doing a lot of reading about raw food diets. I would love some feed back about the good and bad from those of you that have your dogs on a raw food diet.

Is it wise to feed a mix of raw and kibble? Price wise how does it compare to a bag of kibble. I do not feed my cats "Grocery Store" brands. I have them on Go Natural. It's a grain free diet with real meat, fruit and veg. If I do feed kibble I will go with the same brand. I have hear animals on a raw food diet do not deficate as much as their bodies use most of what they eat so there is les waste. Is that true?

I look forward to reading your replies as I want to make an educated decision!

 

[Poodle_Lvr]

I apoligize I put this in the wrong section. Please ignore

 

[Vibrant]

I know it won't be getting a puppy for a couple of months but I want to have all the info I need prior to getting him. I've been doing a lot of reading about raw food diets. I would love some feed back about the good and bad from those of you that have your dogs on a raw food diet.

Is it wise to feed a mix of raw and kibble? Price wise how does it compare to a bag of kibble. I do not feed my cats "Grocery Store" brands. I have them on Go Natural. It's a grain free diet with real meat, fruit and veg. If I do feed kibble I will go with the same brand. I have hear animals on a raw food diet do not deficate as much as their bodies use most of what they eat so there is les waste. Is that true?

I look forward to reading your replies as I want to make an educated decision!

I feed a combination diet of kibble and raw. I give kibble in the morning and raw in the evening, and my dogs handle this well.
I have been feeding raw for seven years. It takes more thought and planning than kibble but the benefits are worth it. My dogs all have beautiful teeth and iron stomachs, and I believe that if it is done properly they are ahead of the game nutritionally. But you must research raw diets carefully, as they need a certain balance of bone, meat and organ meats. "Raw feeding" is an excellent forum to check out.
If you get raw food on sale at the grocery store, I would say it is no more expensive than kibble. I am constantly looking for meat which has been marked down...chicken, lamb, pork, goat..you name it. I also have a source of green tripe..stinky, but the dogs love it!
As far as what comes out the other end...I find it depends on what they've had the day before. A meaty meal equals a softer stool, a boney meal means a firmer stool. I think there is less odour and volume if they have their raw meal....the times I've had to feed kibble only (like when we're traveling) I've noticed bigger, smellier poops.
The only problem I've had with raw is broken teeth. I've learnt the hard way to stick to soft bones...not the big, weight bearing bones that are so hard that the dog can't actually chew it up and swallow it.
Good luck with your new puppy. If you feed raw, you'll be doing a wonderful thing for him!!

 

[neVar]

personally i see no need to mix the two. feeding kibble sort xes some of the benifits for me which are
1- a dog with massive allergies (who is symptom free on raw)
2- the firm disapear in a few week poops) (3-5 dogs in the house at all time)

i have gone to kibble at times (nd will during our move- as we'll be living in family's houses for a few weeks) nd not anti kibble.

i don't see a reason to mix it.

NOW that said- i'm saying this based off of feed 'prepared raw' if i am having trouble (Or just get massive b usy) to really watch the balance of my raw (I make my own) i will toss in CANNED high quality (wellness- evo etc) manufactured food

as to cost- it depenmds on what your dog eats- i have all very high energy dogs. they eat a lot (I feed about 5 pounds a day) i source most of mine and at the cheapest i feed for about .50/lb sometimes it's more closer to 1.5/lb ;i feed about 150lbs /month when i've got four dogs on it. and if it's mostly around 50/lb? No way i could feed that cheap on kibble no way.

Now if i have to (and i do at times) Buy commercial? the cheapest is about 2/lb then i'm spending a lot on raw

like anything big dogs and active dogs cost more to feed. my ussies eat about 2x wht they should to maintain weight (Even my old boy who out runs the pups at the park)