Dog Food Questions - merged

katiep_2

Debt_Free_Chick wrote: »

Feeding cooked bones is definitely dangerous. Cooked bones splinter into shard like fragments, which can pierce the instestines, bowels or any other internal organ.

Raw bones go mushy when chewed and don't splinter.

My 3 yo Springer was weaned by the breeder on raw chicken wings from 6 or 7 weeks old

And his diet is based around raw chicken carcasses.

That's fab :T And nice to know that some breeders wean them straight onto it! I only wish we could. :rolleyes:

scheming_gypsy

Kimberley wrote: »

Gypsy, do you not consider the dangers in this sort of diet?

there are no dangers unless you're a bit stupid. If you give a chicken wing to a big dog it'll swallow it whole and possibly choke but as long as you feed the correct sized food every thing is exactly as nature intended.

i had to take my inuit to the vets today as the kitchen floor was covered in blood (possible cystitis) and asked what she should weigh as i'm not used to the BARF diet. her answer was; just keep feeding her what you are doing, shes beautiful and exactly the right size,,

like debt_free_chick has said, as long as the bones aren't cooked there's no problem. if you feed your dog on the BARF diet you'll notice a massive difference in them. There's no additives so they're not as hyper, glossy coat and they take all the nutrients out of the food so their poo isn't as sloppy and smelly.

scheming_gypsy

5dogs wrote: »

However, I can't see why the BARF diet would be unsafe? Long before people fed dogs, there were wolves - and they didn't hunt tins of pedigree chum!

exactly.. the main problem seems to be that vets always reccomend what they sell and don't like the BARF diet.

mine are so chilled out now they're on it and its as cheap as hell.

nuttywoman

After trying all manner of different brands my dog has settled on JW. Its the only one that stops him itching and settled his stomach.He`s thrived on it.Plus he loves Fish4dogs treats, he has a couple everynight.
If i could afford it i`d change his daily food to that.

Debt_Free_Chick

scheming_gypsy wrote: »

exactly.. the main problem seems to be that vets always reccomend what they sell ..

As they make a profit on it

No different to any other retailer, but that's why they recommend what's on the stand out in reception.

golly99

Feed our dog on Burns Fish and Brown rice, occasionally we might out something on top of it such as Chicken or Fish, but he's quite happy to eat the dry food as is.

Raksha

I'd love to be able to afford JWB, Burns, Nutro, or Arden Grange, but the pennies won't stretch to it (dog training don't pay a lot )

All three of mine (15 year old Springer x BC, 7 year old Springer and 1 year old Labradoodle) are all mostly fed on Costco own Brand (Kirkland) Lamb and rice complete food - and I honestly can't see a difference in them now and when I was feeding Burns...... I think it works out at around £15 for an 18kg sack.

katy2

My two get some dried wagg and whatever tinned cat food the cat is on.

They prefer shopping day and the two or three following it as then they get tesco's saver mince, works out pretty cheap, for a couple of small dogs, they just get it raw. You can also ask at the deli counter in tescos for a doggie bag,has all off cuts from the cold meats. I don't mind giving my two this as an ocassional treat, but don't suppose it would be good for them on a daily basis as some bits of it would likely be quite high in salt.

TigersEye

Wagg here as well, my Maisie (2) we tried her on Iam's at first, she hated that and it didn't like her, and then from what I found on the internet about them, I couldn't keep my dog on that. Then she tried her on Pedigree Chum, she didn't like that and then we tried Bakers, that was ok for a while. Now she's on WAGG and she really likes it, the Chicken & Rice one, we give her a bit off liver, or fish on top and it all goes and she never asks for titbits. DB gives his dog a dried food that he thinks is fab, but the dog never stops f:eek::eek:ting.

dynamicdawg

My dog Jake, gets Arden Grange Senior.
I got him from the Dogs Trust rescue centre and it's what they gave him there so I thought it was best not to change his diet. I get a 15k bag delivered every couple of months.He also gets lots of treats when we are out on our walks as they help with his training - I get these from Aldi or Lidl.