If you can't get organic meat should you still feed raw?

[Seabie]

My vet. suggested that I feed my pets raw.(holistic Vet) He explained this would be better for their digestion and ideal for a few pets with health issues. I do not have access to organic meats in my area. I did find some places on-line that sell and ship hormone anti-biotic free meats. Unfortunately the cost of meat plus the shipping is waaaaay more than I can afford. I hate feeding them the hormone fed meats but that's all we have. I recently learned that the Tyson brand that was advertised as hormone and anti biotic free really isn't. TSince I can't feed them organic meats will they still benefit from a raw diet?

[Aleesha Sattva]

I look at it this way... I can't always get organic for my self... but I still choose to be raw. So why not the same for my dogs?

Hope that helps...

[JennaBoBenna]

non-organic raw is still better than kibbles :)

[Seabie]

Good points! I just feel bad about giving them the hormone filled meat that is in the stores. Even if we did have organic meat I am not sure I could afford it in a mult pet household. I just wonder if long term the hormones in the meat I am giving them will cause the same problems it does for us humans?

[brydee]

Try getting 'in' with farmers or people who go shooting, the animals are wild until they get shot and eat very little or no 'human' foods.
Non organic raw is better than non organic tinned or biscuit food!:)

[shashibala]

I have seen meat at my local farmers market that is not "organic", but is home raised without chemicals. Maybe you have a farmers market near you?

[Pitaya]

what shashibala said....so true!

also i get "hormone free" and "antibiotic free" meats at the supermarket where i live. they are MUCH cheaper than organic meats so maybe look online for these too so they can deliver? co-ops are way to go. groups of people having them delivered in bulk or maybe even a little extra delivered to health foood store near you. many people would support your intention to feed animals best you can, try it, and you will find a way : )

yes the drugs do cause same probs in animals, but raw meat like this is wayyyyyy better than processed stuff---which is like giving your fur kid mcdonalds day in and day out.

best of luck...we're rooting for you!

[Seabie]

Thanks everyone:) Since posting this I've been searching for local sources with no luck. I actually learned that pasture raised would be a good source. As one person I spoke to pointed out some times meat may be organic labled but it was fed grains and soy so not all organic is the same. I live in a very small city so I checked at our one and only health food store. They told me that previous attempts at co-ops failed - lack of interest based on the cost. There are no ads in the newspaper for sale of poultry or co-ops. We have a craft market that sells local grown veggies but no meat. I asked some of the people that were selling the vegetables and they said that previous attempts to sell meat didn't sell well. People weren't willing to pay extra for the meat. They also did not know of any local or near by farms that sold poultry. Most people that do raise poultry are doing it only on a very small scale for their families only and they only do at specific times of the year. As for stores we have Kroger, Walmart and Sams(wholesale). Told ya I live in a small city! LOL The few Mom and Pop stores we had have long closed. People here for the most part base their decission to purchase on price. Walmart is king! The craft market may be closing because the sellers aren't making much of a profit. Everyone only wants to pay Walmart prices. I checked a few on-line sources but the shipping cost is so expensive.

I have to admit that having a multi pet household I don't think I can afford to order the organic or pasture raised/hormone free meats. I would love to but the cost is a major problem right now. I may be able to afford the meat I can purchase at Sam's. I know it's not the best choice but it's either that or go back to the commercial pet foods. I am very concerned about using that meat but it's my only option. :confused:

I might be able to get some bison. I am pretty sure my dog will eat it. Does anyone know if bison is ok for cats?

[carolg]

I feed my dog raw meat, but not always organic. She's raw 8 years and rocking without vet bills, stink or any odors. She is so frisky you wouldn't believe she is aging, but yes, gracefully. She loves game meat when I can find it.

carolg

[RawPaw]

I'm thinking about shooting wild small-game once a month to feed my brother's 2 cats.

Or talking to some organic farmers and seeing about getting the stuff that they can't sell.

I'm not so much into getting them organic as much as I'd like for the killed animals to be treated humanely.

You know if you cat-proofed your backyard (so your cats won't jump the fence) and leave a bird-feeder in reach, I bet they could catch at least a few birds. I'm not sure if my bro's cats will eat bird, but they'll def. hunt them.

[lafsalot]

With (now) 406 lbs of dogs to feed, organic isn't really an option for me. However, they're all still thriving, even my 18 yr old senior! ~ Cathy

[juliebove]

Have you checked the pet food stores or health food stores? All the ones around me have raw, organic pet food. Then again, it's easy for me to get organic people meat. So maybe it's just more common here?

[Seabie]

Yes I've checked with the one and only health food store we have. They tried selling pasture raised/hormone free meats in the past but people here were not willing to pay more for the meat so they discountined it.

I may be able to get bison. Does anyone know if bison is ok to feed to cats?

[RawPaw]

Yes I've checked with the one and only health food store we have. They tried selling pasture raised/hormone free meats in the past but people here were not willing to pay more for the meat so they discountined it.

I may be able to get bison. Does anyone know if bison is ok to feed to cats?

I'm sure it is...but consult a BARF website. Cats eat beef and other game like rabbit.

[Eva]

Seabie -- I fed my dog organic meat (bones and all) and when my husband would do the shopping (even from my checking account), he would refuse to buy organic. He said he doesn't even buy organic, so why should the dog get it?

Well, I was paying, and I didn't want to support the worst of factory farming, that's why. But, let me stop going on about the reasoning behind disagreements with my dh. LOL! :eek:

My point is... nothing happened from what I could tell when my dog had the non-organic stuff. He still was much healthier and happier than he was in the days when he was eating kibbles.

So do your best, and know that your animal(s) will be in better shape for it.

I don't know about the bison, though.

[Halo_effect]

I know it's already answered, but here's my .02 :)

The way I look at it is if I can find affordable raw (we feed like 8+ lbs. of meat a day between all the dogs, so it's few and far between when I can really find affordable organic.) that's great and I'll get it. But since it IS so expensive, I usually can't afford it. But I figure that them eating non-organic meat is still better than eating kibble!

I think the most important thing is knowing your sources. I totally trust my raw supplier mom n pop butchers rather than like Aldi's or something.

[Pony500]

Yeah, I totally agree that a raw diet is better even if it isn't organic. If you fed kibble, you certainly wouldn't be getting organic for the most part anyway. I am fortunate that I have found some sources for "naturally raised" meats that are hormone/antibiotic free. I also have a local butcher in my area and the meat they raise is also hormone/antibiotic free, although it isn't grass-fed or truly organic, but that's good enough for me. As long as my boys aren't getting those hormones and antibiotics! Although I guess they may still be getting exposed to pesticides, depending on what the animals are eating.

[Seabie]

Grass fed/pasture meats would certainly be my first pick. It isn't available locally and I don't think we could afford it. All the mom and pop stores are all gone. After Walmart and Sams opened it was the end of the small local grocery stores with butchers. I worry about the hormones in the meat I am feeding them but I guess it is still better than all the other questionable stuff in the commercial foods.

[Ilse W.]

My Safeway has a sale this week on Foster Farms (the hormone free) whole chickens. 79 cents/pound. I bought 10 and put them in the freezer. I use 1/2 chicken per day for my golden retriever and siamese cat, so that will feed them 20 days. I used to buy the frozen patties from my pet store, which aren't organic either, but set me back $23 plus tax for a package of 12, and one patty wasn't enough for Max for one meal. I have both my guys on the "prey" method of raw feeding, which I really like. I hand Max his 1/4 chicken, which he takes out in the lawn to eat. Kodie gets his chicken ground up, since he is my (totally) toothless wondercat, who would have to gum his food to death.:D

[carolg]

Provided raw for doggie, organic or not, I would still go raw. My husband just bought some game meat for our dog, 340 pounds I think she has now to almost take a year to consume. Molly has her own upright freezer here. She eats about a pound daily and is 45 pounds. She is super healthy. She never visits the vet and you are lucky you have one who recommends raw. What a blessing he is. Molly has been raw for 8 years.

carolg

[Ilse W.]

Gosh, lucky Molly. Max and Kodie have to share the freezer with me, lol.:D:D:D