Looking for great-tasting raw DOG TREAT recipes

[maraw]

Meet the object of my recent obsession: His name is Bruce Wayne (thanks to my children's love of Batman). Bruce is a stray lab that found his way to our front door. We checked around, and with no luck finding the previous owners, we fell in love. He has become my constant companion (aside from my dh of course) and new office mate.

In my efforts to bring him back to good health (he has a few minor conditions associated with an uncared for dog on the run), I am looking to incorporate more raw food transitionally into his diet. I would like to begin with partial raw meals and treats. Currently, I am spending a little time playing with recipes, but would love to know if anyone has had any luck with this.

Additionally, I am considering using this happy energy toward an article for the magazine. I know there's some controversy over vegan vs. non-vegan diets for pets, and I would love to hear from someone in-the-know. In the meantime, I am contacting a few vets I know to learn more.

Thoughts, recipes, ideas anyone?

Thanks in advance for your help!

[shine72]

I don't have any, but I'd love to see if you come up with any responses! I have a pooch (black lab/german short-haired pointer mix from a rescue) and kitters that I would love to know how to feed them raw myself!

[Conscious Midwife]

Since dogs eat almost anything...

are you looking for raw treats that taste good to people?:D

[Veganforlife]

WOW - he's a beauty! I feed my "girls" Royal Canine dry dog food. Although they do like my raw foods.

[maraw]

lifeAgift: I'm looking for, well, anything! We do have another very old dog. She is very set in her dietary ways though. With this one, I really want to get a good start. He's young, we just had him neutered yesterday, and he has some skin problems that need addressing. So I really want sound nutrition. My personal vet was no help at all (although she's a great vet, she doesn't really do the pet nutrition thing - her office sells only Science Diet - yuk!)

Lucy: now you know why you haven't heard from me in the last couple of weeks... :o

[RawVee]

Maraw:

He's gorgeous. :)

http://www.shirleys-wellness-cafe.com/sampleraw.htm

Also, I highly recommend Dr. Pitcairn's Guide to Natural Health for Dogs and Cats.

My best friend feeds her dogs and cat high raw (she adds organ meats from a really good, reputable company) and they adore it.

:)

[maraw]

Thanks! I'll look those up. Someone also mentioned carrot chips the other day. Just plain 'ol dehydrated or fresh bits of carrot. I thought I would give it a go. He's not eating much today, because of his surgery I would suspect, but I'll give it a try tomorrow. I had a cocker spaniel years ago that just loved carrots.

[lafsalot]

I have been feeding my dogs raw for years (human grade meat, offal, pulverized greens, raw carrots, apples, etc) and they are all thriving. If this is the way you want to go, you may want to pick up "Raw Dog Food" by Carina Beth MacDonald. BTW, congrats on your new addition ~ Cathy

[shine72]

lafsalot and RawVee- Thanks a lot!

Anna - I know this was your thread and all, but I had to show my appreciation to them for the info!:o

[carolg]

I have been feeding my dog raw for years too and she hasn't aged one day or lost any energy from the day I got her I think now 7 years. Saved tons of $ feeding her this way. She is a totally happy, content, loving caring dog--my Akida with chow mix and think some Australian shep. She's a whole 45ish pounds. Oh, she loves long hour walks and runs the acre land all day here crashing rabbits and playing with the dog behind us.

Yes, I think carrot chips would be great for the dog. Wonder if some chia seeds would nice to add or even nut pulp. Mine is very picky and she's all about meat.

For healing from surgery, may consider some barley powder in little water or on tongue.

I used to make healthy "cooked" animal treats to market, but very difficult process. A closed chapter in my life.

Anna, you may try going cold turkey with the dog as they are pretty adaptable. I'm sure with your love the dog will eat anything. The rewards are great feeding totally raw. My dog doesn't even care about treats and gets none as she is content this way. She is not a big eater and very picky too--one day she will eat, another day she will look at the food wondering what it is.

I have a "pound" dog and love her. It's my Molly, but funny she was named Lucky and discovered that when we received the legal papers on her. All along we knew her as Molly and wondered why she didn't know her name. She's our Lucky Molly, but we call her Molly.

carolg

[RawVee]

Growing up, I had a yellow lab for 17 years. One of her favorite things to do was to wait until my mom's back was turned, then stalk up to the garden and pull carrots up out of the ground. She's tear across the yard with a huge carrot in her mouth, the green tops trailing out, like some furry Groucho Marx. My mom always knew she was doing it, but we thought it was hilarious that she loved carrots so much. :)

[maraw]

I am definitely planting carrots this fall!! How funny, and how sweet of your mom!

I've always had shelter dogs and cats as well. We figured this one wouldn't make it because of his skin and health. He is so great with the kids too. Couldn't have asked for a better four-legged companion for our family.

OK, so I am heading toward the kitchen now to make carrot, almond, and garlic chips for him. I'll add a little spinach too I think for greens. What about flax? Is that good for dogs too? Next time I go to the store I'll pick up some meat for him.

Carol: The reason I need "treats" is because I am trying to train him and I need something small and dry that I can give him quickly as a reward. When he goes potty outside or comes when called, etc., I need to praise and reward him on the spot. So far, my affection and verbal praise is working well, but I would also like to reinforce it with something yummy from time to time!

Great suggestions everyone. Thanks!

[RawVee]

Maraw,

Flax oil is excellent for dogs; for their coats and skin. And sprouted grains like quinoa would be great, too! You could make quinoa, carrot and flaxseed dog biscuits in the dehydrator as treats. :)

[Zella Juice]

our baby beagle eats (free range, hormone/antibiotic free)raw meat & bones, the pulp from the juicer, and we dehydrate the ends of the tomatoes for treats..she loves them.

[Zella Juice]

also wanted to mention...we give her brewers yeast pills and they make her coat all shiny and healthy

[RawVee]

also wanted to mention...we give her brewers yeast pills and they make her coat all shiny and healthy

And they're a natural tick and flea repellent!!

She's ADORABLE, Tori. :)

[Zella Juice]

i did not know that...bonus!!

[maraw]

Would nutritional yeast work? I have a little left over here.

Tori333: She's beautiful. Thanks for sharing.

[Nix]

Growing up, I had a yellow lab for 17 years. One of her favorite things to do was to wait until my mom's back was turned, then stalk up to the garden and pull carrots up out of the ground. She's tear across the yard with a huge carrot in her mouth, the green tops trailing out, like some furry Groucho Marx. My mom always knew she was doing it, but we thought it was hilarious that she loved carrots so much. :)

We feed our dogs (mut german shepard mix and a 6mnth choco lab puppy) exclusively Nature's Variety Raw Instinct kibble and the raw medalians that company makes. Fabulous food, great for raw and raw transition. For treats my dogs adore carrots, apples, pineapple, celery, lentil sprouts and tomatoes tomato bits. Some sources say stay away from grapes and onions.

Nix

[lafsalot]

If your dog presently has some skin problems, you might want to stay away from and/or at least limit the grains since they are the number one cause of allergies in dogs. Same goes for the nutritional or brewer's yeast, at least until his skin problems resolve.

Try dehydrating some sweet yams ( my dogs love them). I imagine you could also whip up something with rolled oats, peanut butter, applesauce, honey, flax meal, eggs, etc. You could also make bread or cracker recipes using any number of things (eg dried kelp, ground pumpkin or sunflower seeds, shredded carots, and so on...) - the possiblities are endless.

Here is a list of foods to avoid:
http://diamondpaws.com/health/barfveg.htm

ACV is not only good for us, but for our pets as well - not only a great antibacterial and anti-fungal, but gives the immune system a good boost. Also helps to normalize the blood akaline balance.

In lieu of the brewer's yeast as a bug repellent, you could also use neem oil spray. My dogs have yet to be infested with fleas or ticks.

With your "uncooking" skills, I am sure you will have no problem coming up with something palatable for your furbabies. Give both of yours a big hug from me ~ Cathy

[maraw]

Thanks Cathy - I'll look at that web site right away!

I do like to make things myself, but sometimes run short on time. I like to have something premade handy on those occassions. I found organic dog food at the Petco close by, but nothing raw. I'll keep looking. In the meatime, I just finished making some treats, or sorts for him and my big girl (hope she likes them too). I just let him taste each ingredient to see if it was something he would like. I put in almond pulp, carrots, spinach, flax seeds, tomato, molasses, nutritional yeast (not too much), and a bit of this lamb liver stuff my new friend at Petco gave me to try with him for training - the idea of it kind of grosses me out to tell the truth, but he seems to just love the stuff. I added some water to move it around and spread it into 120 little bites on dehydrator sheets. He just loves it!

I let him taste just a tiny bit of garlic (mixed in a spoonful of the mixture) and he wouldn't touch it. I also tried honey with the same results - which is really good to know because a lot of natural dog treats have both of those ingredients.

I'll let you know how they turn out tomorrow... so far so good. Now on to dinner!

[maraw]

After reading that site I think next time I'll replace the spinach with zucchini or yellow squash, add an apple, and cut back on the carrots a bit.

We'll see. Thanks for your help, really!

[lafsalot]

Cosco also sells bags of dried 100% human grade chicken strips (jerky?).

[Kitty]

even tho many sites suggest giving a bit of garlic to your dogs I have heard that garlic is just as bad for them as onions! Also grapes and raisins are not good for dogs either. I have fed both my dogs on raw foods for a while now and they LOVE it. They love carrots and corn on the cob! Even celery! But there favorite is pineapple and olives for some reason LOL. But I only give it to them as treats. They mostly eat raw meat.

[Bingo24]

At a Raw Food class, someone mentioned they dehyrdate Sweet Potatoes for dog treats - and another lady who only goes to a natural vet said dogs love them. Worth a try.:)

[maraw]

At a Raw Food class, someone mentioned they dehyrdate Sweet Potatoes for dog treats - and another lady who only goes to a natural vet said dogs love them. Worth a try.:)

I've got one sitting on the kitchen counter as we speak. I'll throw it in with the little treats I made earlier. Sounds great! And very simple, which I love!!

Thanks!

[sweetpea76]

My dog loves, no really really loves dates- lol

also, i out some of my green smoothie in her kibble and she usually drinks it right up :p

[sweetpea76]

o and btw.. wow, so much good info on this thread! I can't wait to start incorporatig more raw into Mia's ( my doggie) diet. I guess it will counteract all of the McDonalds and burger grease that her dad gives her lol. :D

[puffysmom]

If anyone comes up with a recipe please let me know. My dog came from a home that had all dogs running together. I knew when i bought my puppy that it could show up with some kind of problem due to inbreeding and he did. Hip displasure, skin problem off and on and now he is way to fat. I take him for runs but he cannot go for long and he has a problem with breathing which i think is from being so fat.
He loves my dip made with raw cashews but want to make him some chips. I think i might just do some soaking and see what i can come up with. I do have my own chips that he might like.
Raw meat gives him the trots so everytime he goes I have to stand and wipe his butt and we all know dog poo is smelly. I had to give that up cause i could not stand the smell anymore and if i didnt wipe he would get a sore butt.

[lafsalot]

Puffysmom - Wow, I am really surprised that raw meat gave your dog the trots. Dogs that are fed barf have firmer, less foul smelling stools that literally turn to white dust within a few days. They also have fewer movements ( a big plus in the yard clean-up department).

There are some dogs that do experience diarrhea when first transitioning over to raw, but is usually due to detox. BTW, raw pumpkin is great for firming stools up. ~ Cathy

[Ashtangi]

WE feed our schnoodle vegetarian dog food and then when we juice (carrots, apples, spinach) we feed her all the pulp. Its soft and she loves it!!!!! ;)

[SeaRose]

Maraw, first, it is great that you took that guy in, he looks like a champ. I have been feeding my dog raw for almost three years now. He loves it and is so healthy, he is 5 but acts like a puppy. (that's him in my avatar).

Anyway, he had some skin problems for awhile, too, and I started giving him one sardine everyday, and it seemed to help quite a bit. Also, I get some canned tripe at my local natural pet store, and he LOVES it and it makes his coat very shiny.

I never thought of making dog treats, what a great idea!

[portiz]

First of all, congratulations on your new addition!! Secondly...as far as treats go...anything that comes out of my dehydrator is a treat to them.
Mine love bananas, carrots, kiwi, pineapple, and broccolli. I haven't tried to make any of the beef or chicken jerkies for them because the thought of it just grosses me out. They also LUUUUUUUV avocado.
I do not feed them grapes, raisins, garlic, or onion. I know grapes and raisins are fatal (like chocolate). Not sure about garlic and onion but I've heard/read somewhere it could cause upset tummies (don't know for sure though).
www.boxerworld.com has very good informative forums as well and there is a section on BARF (the equivalent of RAW for humans). You should be able to find PLENTY of ideas for recipes on treats and actual meals for them.
My two boxers get raw chicken or ground beef mixed into a premium kibble (one of my personal favorites, whenever I can afford it, is Wysong) www.wysong.com
Zeus (5 yrs old-and that's him in my avatar) and Cleo (6 months old) both have started looking and feeling better. They're energetic, they don't shed (and boxers are known for that), Zeus doens't walk around like an old man...and Cleo has shot up like a weed (she's about 50 pounds now).
Anyway, I hope all this helps. I love my dogs as a parent would their kid, because these are MY kids. But you'll see the difference in a heartbeat, and they'll show you even more love (they ignore my BF because I'm the chicken lady). ;)

[lafsalot]

Hey Patti, I was waiting for you to chime in. ~ Cathy

[shine72]

Patti - I tried to register for the forum, but they are not accepting any registrations, so I couldn't look it up there. Also, the wysong link did NOT take me to any company for pet products. Is there a different address for them? Thanks!

[lafsalot]

Shine - I have been a member of BW for quite a few years, and they often close registration from time to time - just keep trying every so often.

Try Wysong.Net (instead of org) ~ Cathy

[shine72]

Cathy - Thank you so much!:D

I just tried it, it is .net! Thanks again!

[maraw]

Good morning all! Well, he really seems to like the treats I made last week. We used them for training all weekend and he really enjoyed them. They do smell just awful though - I think it's that liver. The idea just really grosses me out, yuk! I think I'll go either all veggie, or try a different meat next time. My vet (naturopath -sp?) suggests transitioning pet to raw. Go only half raw half cooked meet with steamed veggies for the first week or two, then go cold turkey, so to speak :) I did this with a very sick standard poodle I had years ago, and when he died (very aggressive cancer) he had the most beautiful coat he had ever had, and his allergies had completely disappeared.

Thanks for sharing your experiences guys. This has really helped and encouraged me. I have lots of yummy treats to try out with him now...

[lafsalot]

Yes, most likely the liver - really does smell awful when dehydrating (would of used a PU smilie here if we had one) ~ Cathy

[maraw]

MAJOR Peeeeeeeeeiiiiiuuuuuuuuuuu!!!! But he loves the stuff!

[SeaRose]

Your vet is right, transitioning is best. I gave my dog cooked chicken, rice and veggies for about two weeks, and gave small bits of raw until he was 100% raw. He still had alot of detox, and bad gas. Really bad, I mean clear the room bad. Plain yogurt is good for that, tho.

Good luck with your doggie!

[maraw]

Today I spoke with Dr. Ruza Bagdanovich (she wrote, The Cure is in the Cause). She is coming out with a wonderful new book called Love Your Pets, Let Nature be Your Vet (LOVE the name!). Anyway, she gave me some wonderful, and very practical, ideas on feeding dogs and cats. She is also letting me use an excerpt from her book for the next issue of Purely Delicious - very exciting.

Oh, and by the way guys, I tried the sweet potato tonight and HE LOVED IT!

[Tropigal]

my big lab mix LOVES raw carrots for treats!

[maraw]

OK, so here's a weird one. Bruce LOVES banana! Who would have ever thought that one? Certainly not me!! He really does. Ate half of mine earlier, so I have him the rest of my daughters. He just loved it! This is really fun trying out different foods with him - just allowing his tastes to guide me.

[portiz]

Patti - I tried to register for the forum, but they are not accepting any registrations, so I couldn't look it up there. Also, the wysong link did NOT take me to any company for pet products. Is there a different address for them? Thanks!

hmmm...interesting about the boxerworld site...
but as far as the wysong link i had it wrong...
it's http://www.wysong.net/
sorry about that!!!! they have an internet special for $30, they give you lots of literature, a free book and DVD, and nice sized samples of their products; even a full sized powdered supplement bottle that you can sprinkle over your pets' kibble to make a gravy-like soup when you add hot water. It's a little on the expensive side when you start ordering their products directly from them, but both Cleo and Zeus literally flip out when they see me walking outside with their meals. i think it's worth it because i love my two dogs very much and they are a part of my life. i would literally spend evertyhign i have in my bank accounts to save them, should anything ever happen to them. BTW, you do get coupons and discounts when you order over a certain amount.

[portiz]

OK, so here's a weird one. Bruce LOVES banana! Who would have ever thought that one? Certainly not me!! He really does. Ate half of mine earlier, so I have him the rest of my daughters. He just loved it! This is really fun trying out different foods with him - just allowing his tastes to guide me.

Both of mine love banana as well. You should also try kiwi and pineapple.
just remember NO RAISINS OR GRAPES...these have the same effects as chocolate and can be fatal to dogs when large amounts are injested. I'm assuming that dates and figs would be along the same families as raisins and grapes. so i would steer away from all that.

[portiz]

Shine - I have been a member of BW for quite a few years, and they often close registration from time to time - just keep trying every so often.

Try Wysong.Net (instead of org) ~ Cathy

oh cathy!! you beat me to the punch!!! thanx!!! give your two a hug and kiss from me!

BTW, I was just informed that avocado is also toxic to dogs and cats. so I just wanted to pass that along. i need to look and see where i can find a list of every food that is toxic to them. i say they love it because Cleo has countersurfed and grabbed one of my avocados and started eating it like it was an egg. I rarely give them that becasue they are so expensive, but woudl give it to them as a treat.
I think wysong has some very good info in that department.

[lafsalot]

oh cathy!! you beat me to the punch!!! thanx!!! give your two a hug and kiss from me!

Actually four right now - two 3 year old boxers, a seven year old rottie, and a 16 year old bullmastiff mx. ~ Cathy

[shine72]

Patti - Thanks for the info! Cathy had already posted, like you saw, but it's nice that you tried to update it too! Right now my poor pooch (black lab/german short-haired pointer mix) that I got from a rescue in '04 is eating the Natural Life stuff that Walmart sells. I know, bad me.:( In my defense, I do what budget allows and that was all it has allowed for a really long time. But things are looking better, and he's got some skin thing going on - and I don't want to "medicate" him. So, now we're looking into getting the amials raw! (Spelled that way intentionally)

[lafsalot]

Here is just a glance of the regualr ingredients delivered by rendering plants to commericial dog food manufacturers:

*euthanized dogs :eek: - toxic chemicals such as phenobarbito, the euthanizing agent injected to kell dogs daily at dog shelter (this comes with the euthanized dog who is ground up at a rendering plant to be added to dog food - the dog may still be wearing a flea collar and be in a plastic bag when rendered)!!!

*Blood

*Feathers

* Downed, dying, deseased and dead animals

*Hooves, beaks, feet, and hide....

and the list goes on and on.

Of course one alternative is to buy high quality dog food that is natural without preservatives. That can be very pricey, especially if you have a multi-dog family. However, please note that not all brands are exempt from the recall - Natural Balance is recalling some of their foods today.

If you are not ready to delve into feeding your dog raw, there is a free primer on home-cooking online at: http//www.pet-grub.com


Cathy

[portiz]

Patti - Thanks for the info! Cathy had already posted, like you saw, but it's nice that you tried to update it too! Right now my poor pooch (black lab/german short-haired pointer mix) that I got from a rescue in '04 is eating the Natural Life stuff that Walmart sells. I know, bad me.:( In my defense, I do what budget allows and that was all it has allowed for a really long time. But things are looking better, and he's got some skin thing going on - and I don't want to "medicate" him. So, now we're looking into getting the amials raw! (Spelled that way intentionally)

Hey, I understand...i had Zeus on Maxximum Nutrition lamb and rice formula for a long time...another walmart brand. i think as long as you see that the main ingredient is not corn or an animal by-product, you're good to go.
I would supplement though with raw chicken or beef bones...especially beef bones. Your local butcher would probably let you have any bones for free, if you ask nicely.

[shine72]

Patti - Thanks, that was what I was planning on starting with. I'm going to start incorporating more raw and less dog food until I can get him transitioned, cause I know it's not good for dogs to radically switch their diet.

lafsalot - I know about the higher priced natural. And we bought that when we first got him. But we had hit really hard times financially, and nobody in this house was eating what I would call "real food" as we had to get our food from a food bank for a while there. Now that we can do better, we are.

[portiz]

I'm going to start incorporating more raw and less dog food until I can get him transitioned, cause I know it's not good for dogs to radically switch their diet.


They'll tell you when they're ready to switch away from kibble. but you know...its funny because I still mix their kibble with their daily "treat" whether its raw chicken or beef. I also add hot water to make it "soupy." Cleo will dig into her bowl like a mad dog and shakes all the kibble off it...like she's "killed" the bird. And devours that thing. then she goes over and sits in front of zeus and barks at him to hurry up so she can eat his leftovers, if any.

Zeus will delicately take it out and licks off the kibble that's stuck to it and (I've personally seen him do this) spits out the kibble. Then he proceeds to savor every bite, thereby infuriating Cleo much more.

This happens every afternoon between 5:30 and 6pm CST.
:rolleyes:

[SchoolOfRAWk]

Your dog is GORGEOUS!!!!!

And email this place: www.angelshealthfoodinstitute.com about it.

BUT DOGS CAN BE HAPPY VEGANS. Cats can be too but it's more difficult.

[puffysmom]

If the package says lamb and rice in its product it does not mean it is the same lamb as humans eat. I would guess that it is anything that humans would not eat and prob sick lambs. It would cost way to much to actually put a healthy meat in dog or cat food. I used to give my dog canned dog food. It smelled yummy like a human could eat it. Gave my dog the trots......so i had to quit feeding it. I dont know what is in some of the foods i give my dog but feel he is sensitive to preservatives and such.

I am still dehydrating my first batch of crackers for the dogs. I have been feeding it to them as it is drying. They love it. I just need to add more to it next time. It has steel cut oats, lentil beans, carrots, orange, apple, some nuts that was getting past its prime, salt and some dried herbs I have. I have eaten some myself. I did not put onions in so it is not as flavorful as I was hopeing for.

Hope i can find some info on the net for making dif kinds of healthy raw food for my best bud.

[eatyourbroccoli]

my two pups (both are resuce dogs too :) ) LOVE carrots. one of them also loves celery, the other plays with it for a bit and then leaves it on the floor to be eaten by the first pup. but theyre not vegan..my mom feeds them some organic/all-natural/raw (but dried/dehydrated) stuff..but they do get chicken and rice once or so a week (or if theyve been having tummy issues..which the younger one does a lot bc she was vaccinated hardcore since she was a rescue dog from katrina). my mom tried doing raw meat with them, but neither of them tolerated it well at all (even though it was raw, organic, from a special raw-meat dog store). my guess is bc of their vaccinations.

i personally dont believe dogs should be vegan. they are naturally omnivorous, and imposing our own ethics on them, IMO, inhibits their right to be that which they are: dogs.

[CAdreamer]

I no particular quantities or measurements, I make wonderful dog treats for my Aussie....

pulp from juicing...any and all veggies we use
raw ground beef or turkey
garlic
flax...ground
olive oil
oats
eggs
brewer's yeast
and...anything else I have on hand that would be healthy

I mix and pat our about 1/2" thick on mesh sheets...cut in small 1" squares, and dehydrate until absolutely dry. Break apart and store.

[portiz]

I no particular quantities or measurements, I make wonderful dog treats for my Aussie....

pulp from juicing...any and all veggies we use
raw ground beef or turkey
garlic
flax...ground
olive oil
oats
eggs
brewer's yeast
and...anything else I have on hand that would be healthy

I mix and pat our about 1/2" thick on mesh sheets...cut in small 1" squares, and dehydrate until absolutely dry. Break apart and store.

awesome!! I will have to try this. i had made some flax seed crackers for me the other day, and they absolutley loved them.

[carolg]

Thanks Patti and all for the great suggestions as they roll in. My dog is so picky but mainly eats her raw wild game meat and some chicken which she is not fond of. Even when I mix veggies in her food, ground fine, she has a way of picking out every little bit. Sounds crazy but that's her. I don't give her treats, but would gladly make some.

Does the meat, besides liver, stink in the dehydrator?????????

I was in a dog coop and ordered Salmon oil adding to the food daily. The dog loved it and heard great for skin problems which my dog didn't have. Keep the sharing up. We can never know too much.

carolg, mom to Molly

[lafsalot]

Thanks Patti and all for the great suggestions as they roll in. My dog is so picky but mainly eats her raw wild game meat and some chicken which she is not fond of. Even when I mix veggies in her food, ground fine, she has a way of picking out every little bit. Sounds crazy but that's her. I don't give her treats, but would gladly make some.

Does the meat, besides liver, stink in the dehydrator?????????

I was in a dog coop and ordered Salmon oil adding to the food daily. The dog loved it and heard great for skin problems which my dog didn't have. Keep the sharing up. We can never know too much.

carolg, mom to Molly

No, not all meats smell when they are dehydrated.

As for your picky veggie eater, you can try mixing them with some ground offal or meat.

My furbabies get fish once or twice a week, so do not worry about supplementing with fish oil. Btw, salmon has a parasite (as does wild game) and should be frozen at least a month prior to feeding) I always steam the salmon anyway just to be sure.

Give your furbaby a big hug from me ~ Cathy

[magicparrot]

I say that if someone is vegan, then why shouldn't their canine companions also be vegan? It would be against my morals to feed other animals to my animal friends. Sure, if they lived in the wild, they would probably eat other critters, which is natural for them. But domesticated dogs don't live in the wild, they live with humans. And if they can get all their nutrients from vegan food (which they can), then why not? I personally can't feed my dogs other animals, because I would feel very sad for the individuals who were turned into food.

[punkspirit]

Ooooooooooooooooh, what a cutie!!:)

For a dog the healthiest food-alternative is not vegan!! Becaause they are carnivores. Though its probably possible to feed them vegetarian/vegan.

Our dogs get meat to eat. I am a vegan (for ethical reasons) but the dogs should get what they need. I try to avoid processed food as good as possible... Well, my mum purchases sheep innards(?) like pansen(they are cut into veeery small peaces and frozen into blocks) at a local butcher and then they(dogs) get veggies and rice... though I am sure the rice isnt ideal:rolleyes:

The thought od the meat might be very disgusting... but I DONT WANT TO KNOW WHAT IS IN PROCESSED DOGFOOD:eek: ..

[punkspirit]

I personally can't feed my dogs other animals, because I would feel very sad for the individuals who were turned into food.

I totally understand that point! I am still struggeling too...:rolleyes: But the meat my dogs get is a "byproduct" that would get thrown away otherwise... So somehow I see it as a moral compromise...:rolleyes:

[maraw]

I know, handling raw meat, well, meat of any kind is really disgusting, but my dogs really love it. I focus on the respect and love I have for my companion friends and their health. In addition, I am now purchasing my raw meats from a local rancher and these are indeed cuts that he is not able to easily sell otherwise. That doesn't ease my concern for the cow, mind you, but I've done enough research to know that my dogs, and especially my cat, are different enough from my physiology that their nutritional NEEDS require some kind of animal-based foods.

For cats specifically, there is an EFA called taurine that can only be found in animal tissue. If cats do not have this in their diet in some form, they can go blind within a few years. Humans and dogs are able to synthesize it, but cats cannot. Here is a great artical on the subject: http://www.felinefuture.com/nutrition/taurine.php I am sure you can use synthetic taurine, but that defeats the purpose of a fresh raw diet.

In the meantime, my dogs get fish or meat twice a week and veggies, fruit, nuts and sprouts all the other days. They seem to really love it, and I'm seeing a real improvement in the disposition of our older dog. It's wonderful!

[carolg]

Cathy,
Thanks for veggie info but my dog is professional at hunting for even the tinest meats that are with her meats. She's just "Molly."

[EastCoastie]

Saw your post about your dog's skin issue and thought I would share with you. My beautiful dobe girl started getting really bad dry, flaky skin. I felt so bad for her because she would scratch/bite until irritated. However, I made two changes to her diet and she's fine now.

1. I started giving her 8 oz of Pacific Brands organic chicken broth with her dinner. (I've tried other brands - still organic but generic - and they gave her some rank gas. Even though the ingredients looked virtually identical they were not - I could tell by the smell - so all that to say use Pacific or a high quality brand.)

2. I give both my dobes flax daily, either a TBS of oil or a TBS of ground up golden flax. (Sometimes they also get coconut - they are FIENDS for it.) They get some good fat every day...

I think it took about 2 months to clear her up. This was after a visit to the vet and an unsuccessful round of medicating.

I feed my dogs one of the very best dry foods there is (Nutro Ultra), but even with that she still developed the condition. Thankfully she is all better now. Perhaps it will help your beloved pet too!

EC

[maraw]

Just wanted to give you guys an update. Both dogs are doing great on their new raw diet. Raw meat or fish 2-3 times a week and raw veggies, eggs with shells, and a little fruit the rest of the time.

I highly recommend this way of feeding for pets. It's affordable, easy and they really love it!

[Gigglezz]

My Two Babies Bella And Benny Absolutely Love Fruits And Veggies. Every Morning While Preparing My Green Smoothie They Beg Me For Some Of The Ingredients And Then They Want My Smoothie!!! They Go Crazy For It. I Always Have To Put Some In Their Bowls. Everyday They Both Have A Salad With Their Dinner. Bella And Benny Absolutely Love Romaine Lettuce (the Crunchy Part), Tomato, Carrot, Apple, Pear, Mango, Banana, Bell Peppers, Broccoli, Strawberries, Almond Butter, And The List Goes On And On.

[shine72]

EastCoastie - Sorry, I just saw this today! Thanks for the info! I will try it out!

[maraw]

Bruce's favorites so far are Brazil nuts, bananas, dates and sardines. He also really seems to like zucchini and sweet potato. I'm going to try the romaine tonight - thanks for the idea, Gigglezz.

One thing I just have to add to this thread is how easy it has been to house-break him. I know he's bright and all, but I've really seen a difference from just the first week. His stools used to be full of mucus and were just huge (I know this because I was cleaning them up in my house). Ever since then, they are more regular, and he's more regular which makes the whole timing-thing for house-breaking-thing MUCH easier. One of my friends came over yesterday and kept commenting on how gorgeous his coat is - she didn't even notice the hairloss spots on his ears and ankles (a skin condition from his days as a stray, we think). The hair in those places is beginning to grow back, but is doing so slowly. Anyway, she didn't even see them - all she saw was the shine, and she just kept on saying it!

This is all well and good, but the most important thing is how it makes the dogs feel. I believe both my dogs are not only enjoying the taste of it, but are feeling the benefits of a raw food diet.

[lafsalot]

My own interest in going raw was peaked only after seeing how well my own furbabies thrived on it - it worked for them, and now it is working for me ~ Cathy

[maraw]

My own interest in going raw was peaked only after seeing how well my own furbabies thrived on it - it worked for them, and now it is working for me ~ Cathy

I know what you mean. Raw isn't just my personal good-health secret anymore. I've applied it to my four-legged companions and it works for them too!