posted 02-14-2004 10:55 AM         

Has anyone tried this food before? I'm using the canned food as a supplement to dry for my oldest senior who is *very* fussy & selective about what she eats (won't eat most raw and most brands of dry). I don't think they've come out with a dry food yet. I like that their wet food has the consistency of a thick Stew, I've been looking for a quality food like this forever. We've tried wellness, solid gold, eagle pack, and several other canned but they all seem the same to me - more of a mushy, minced meat (cat food) texture, which my girl doesn't care for.

The first 5-10 ingredients listed look good but I don't like some of the latter ingredients in this product. Great variety though! My girl especially likes "Grammy's Pot Pie" and "Wild Buffalo Grill".

posted 02-14-2004 03:40 PM         

I bet it is a good addition for your older girl, if she likes it!

posted 02-15-2004 04:11 PM         

Veggies won't HURT dogs. But they don't need them. If they like them, then given as a treat is fine. But it should not be a significant portion of their diets. And they won't be able to utilize them at all unless they are pureed or cut up pretty fine. Otherwise, it's just a nice exercise for their teeth, which they don't need if they are eating raw, meaty bones every day.

I am on a yahoo list for support (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/rawfeeding/), and there are many people there following the prey model who have fed many, many dogs over the years and have not suffered any adverse effects. On the contrary, their dogs are very healthy.

I feed raw, MEATY bones (LOTS of meat on the bones), organ meats, whole fish, and occasional eggs. I am going to buy wild salmon old (Timberwolf Organics is a good brand) as a supplement - the only one needed - to provide more omega-3's since the meat of grain-fed animals do not contain enough omega-3's and I don't have enough access to raw, whole cold-water fish. (Although the eggs I feed are high in omega-3's).

The bigger the variety of protein sources, the better. So far, I am feeding chicken (and other poultry like turkey and game hens) and pork and whole fish on a regular basis, as well as some beef organs. I have also fed some lamb and beef, but I haven't managed to locate an affordable source for these meats, yet. I have a rabbit in the freezer, and I am also looking for goat and duck.

All the nutrients dogs need are contained in this diet. Is there a nutrient specifically that you were wondering about, Maisey? I would be happy to go into more detail if you would like.

The book that the list recommends (that I have not read yet) is Tom Lonsdale's "Raw Meaty Bones Promote Health". A lot of the BARF books, like Pitcairn and Billinghurst, contain outdated and mistaken information about dogs needing veggies.

Healthy dogs do great on this diet, and a lot of UNhealthy dogs have improved dramatically - things like allergies, seizures, etc. It is not a miracle-cure or anything, though, so people should not expect to start this diet and have their dog be immediately tip-top shape (although sometimes it does happen).

The action of ripping and tearing the meat off the bones and chewing the bones is great for the dog's teeth and muscles, especially of the jaw, shoulders, and neck. People who feed puppies this way have noticed a remarkable difference in the look of the pup compared to kibble-fed littermates. It does not grow the puppy too fast, and the musculature is well-developed. Teeth never need cleaning, and the problems associated with tartar build-up and decaying teeth don't happen.

Several people also swear by the gorge-and-fast method, where you feed a large meal followed by a lighter day or two, or a fast day. They say their dogs look even better when they feed this way rather than equal meals every day. I haven't tried it yet.

If you are so inclined, go to the list and just lurk for a while. It's a very high volume list so I have trouble keeping up with it, but I learn a ton by listening to other people's questions.