Need a new dog food urgently, Blue Buffalo Warning

[chuckorlando]

So chicken bones are not bad?

 

[Smart_Family]

As long as they aren't cooked chicken bones are fine. It's cooking bones that can make them brittle and dangerous.

 

[LadyDogLover]

Thanks Oak Hill and AB.

 

[ruthcatrin]

Apollo LOVES beef spare ribs from the butcher for chews, he just goes to town, and a couple hours later not only is any exterior meat gone but but half the rib is gone where he's worked it down. He crunches up chicken wings like they're candy, and chicken necks and backs too. Pretty much any type of animal bone is fine as long as its not cooked, the only hard part with getting deer in my area is we're a CWD warning area, so hunters don't like to save the bones. Mind, canines can't catch CWD, but because of the warnings for humans deer bones are hard to get here. Otherwise pretty much anything goes.

 

[chuckorlando]

Wow thats good info. Thanks

 

[ruthcatrin]

I would suggest, untill you know how your dog reacts, the first few times you feed bones go larger rather than smaller. Most dogs will chew up bones anyway, but every now and then you'll get one who'll attempt to bolt the thing whole. Not nessecarly bad, but possibly not good (if you're really unlucky it won't digest enough and cause intestinal issues). But as long as they crunch up the bones at least some they'll digest just fine, so the first few times you give bones go big, and supervise very closely, then work your way to the smaller stuff (like wings that can be added directly to the meal bowl) once you're sure your dog will chew properly.

I'll also add, though I DID say all bones are fine you may want to avoid pork bones, the extra fat may not be good (opinions on this vary, I just use them for extra special treats ONLY and not a daily or weekly, or even monthly thing).

 

[chuckorlando]

Yea the both eat bones. If anything Kona gets bored with them. As did Budda. Not bored like wont eat. Just walk away and let your jaws rest. Rib bones aint a problem though. My wife swears this will be ungodly expensive. hahahaha. So we got some learning and price comparing to do

 

[Smart_Family]

If you have a butcher or can order online from some of the links posted before it will eventually be cheaper once you get in the swing of things. If you just do raw from the grocery store it will most likely be ridiculously expensive.

 

[angelbears]

Actually, I get about half of our meat at the grocery store but I'm in Texas and cost of living is pretty low here. I watch the ads and get pork ribs for .97. pork roasts for .97(we use the bone in them to make beans, so no loss there.), couple of times a year we get brisket for .97, Turkey for .39, whole chickens .49 to .59.

 

[ruthcatrin]

Dependson you grocery store. Watch for sales, find butchers, maybe even see if you have a meat processor in your area (talk to your local 4H, the person they use is usually reputable), buy in bulk and freeze in portion sizes. Pound for pound its usually no worse, and usually better priced, than high end store bought foods. And you may find your dog eats less this way, and I KNOW you'll have to pick up less poo. It usually does good things for their teeth too (fewer expensive teeth cleanings).

 

[chuckorlando]

Yea we have a place called pops meat and moms produce. To bad seafood aint the main dish cause I get that whole sale. I could feed them shrimp for about a buck a pound. hahahaha. We still have a bit of learning to do on the topic thats for sure. Probly ease in to it some and see how they do

 

[angelbears]

When/if you start. I would suggest starting with one protein, like chicken and sticking with it for about 4 weeks, then add another protein, stay with that a least a couple weeks. If you introduce new proteins to quick you get cannon butt.

 

[chuckorlando]

AHAHAHAHAHA. Understood.

 

[ruthcatrin]

Easing into its not a bad thing!

 

[mmyrto]

I feed my 6 month old CC puppy Orijen large breed puppy. We love it!Used to eat Innova but she wouldnt eat it it was a struggle.

 

[Mark]

Dogs, pigs, bears, monkeys, and humans have very similar digestive systems. Dogs can eat what humans eat and thrive. I have always cooked for my dogs and feel that making your own dog food is best as it gives you control over the ingredients.

There are three problems with store bought dog food

-- firstly, you have to wonder what they put in it so that it doesn't go bad sitting on a shelf in a bag. Meat would go off, wouldn't it? This may be why dogs get cancer and kidney and liver disease.

-- Secondly,dogs that eat dog food tend to smell.

-- thirdly, everyone prefers fresh food made with healthy ingredients, even dogs.

It's not as difficult as it sounds. Here is one of my dogs' favourite recipes. You can cook up a big pot full and keep it in a fridge for a week. Fry up two or three onions, a couple of heads of celery and a couple of pounds of carrots. Add ten or fifteen pounds of cheap meat (liver, chicken wings, minced meat in equal proportions). Brown it all up and add a couple cans of chopped tomatoes, a bottle of stout beer, a few bay leaves and some salt. Leave out the pepper and garlic and mushrooms as they don't like those. When it,s all cooked up,taste it and adjust the salt. Then add a few pounds of penne or similar pasta and some water. When the pasta is cooked and the water is taken up, it's ready. You can substitue potatoes or rice for the pasta, but pastas cheapest. You can get fancy and a little bit of gravy powder. You can add leftover meat, chicken carcasses, beef bones, and gravy, chunks of cheese, plain yogurt, eggs, salmon skins, etc. During the week as you cook for the family. All of it is appreciated. People say the bag dog food is "balanced" but I think fresh food is probably healthier and if you make sure you incorporate a lot of different things into it it will be healthy. People also point at dogs gobbling up the bag food and say it must be good because they love it. Kids love Doritos -- it doesn't make it healthy.

The dogs stay healthy and sleek and dont need a vet. They dont stink. And it costs less than the fancier dog foods. It takes a visit to a discount supermarket once a week and about three quarter hours of cooking time.

 

[wolfsnaps]

Once you find good sources, raw is awesome. I used to feed partial raw (when I could get raw). Now I have a big chest freezer. As far as that thing taking up space...well, lol, I live in a trailer. It basically takes up my entire kitchen. What I do for those darned dogs. LOL

Not sure where you are but I hunt and I often get stuff from my deer processors. I asked one about the bins full of unwanted parts like heads, rib cages, legs, etc. They told me I could have whatever I wanted from there. As long as its cold enough outside, its safe. I also donate most of my deer to me dogs. I have gotten free meat from craigslist (just once). I check grocery stores for sales. I got chicken leg quarters for 0.39 a pound recently which was awesome. You just have to make sure it isn't enhanced with chicken broth or extra sodium (should say on package). I currently get my staples of meat (chicken backs and beef heart) at a local meat retailer. I am also going to start calling around farms and slaughtering places (if I can find any) and see if we can work something out. Being a raw feeder takes some leg work to find good deals. And you need good deals when feeding large dogs.

Even if you stick to kibble, its not a bad thing to offer your dog a raw meaty bone now and again for mental stimulation and dental health. Just no weight bearing bones. Don't want to crack those teeth.

Before going raw full time I would rotate my dogs food. Every bag was something different. One bag I would get Taste of the Wild High Prairie, another bag would be Innova or Holistic Select. Etc.

 

[Smart_Family]

Once you find good sources, raw is awesome. I used to feed partial raw (when I could get raw). Now I have a big chest freezer. As far as that thing taking up space...well, lol, I live in a trailer. It basically takes up my entire kitchen. What I do for those darned dogs. LOL

Not sure where you are but I hunt and I often get stuff from my deer processors. I asked one about the bins full of unwanted parts like heads, rib cages, legs, etc. They told me I could have whatever I wanted from there. As long as its cold enough outside, its safe. I also donate most of my deer to me dogs. I have gotten free meat from craigslist (just once). I check grocery stores for sales. I got chicken leg quarters for 0.39 a pound recently which was awesome. You just have to make sure it isn't enhanced with chicken broth or extra sodium (should say on package). I currently get my staples of meat (chicken backs and beef heart) at a local meat retailer. I am also going to start calling around farms and slaughtering places (if I can find any) and see if we can work something out. Being a raw feeder takes some leg work to find good deals. And you need good deals when feeding large dogs.

Even if you stick to kibble, its not a bad thing to offer your dog a raw meaty bone now and again for mental stimulation and dental health. Just no weight bearing bones. Don't want to crack those teeth.

Before going raw full time I would rotate my dogs food. Every bag was something different. One bag I would get Taste of the Wild High Prairie, another bag would be Innova or Holistic Select. Etc.

You have to be really careful with switching kibbles like that with most dogs. It's one thing to switch within a brand to a different flavor every time but switching to a totally different kibble needs to be done slowly and over a 9-15 day period as to avoid severe digestive upset. Switching too quickly can cause shock to the digestive system and it's hard to get out of it once you do, not to mention no one ever enjoys projectile diarrhea haha!

 

[babyjoemurphy]

Ok so now I am so lost. Our EM is on BB and we think the chicken is causing ear infections. He has had a few. Dec,Mar and now. He use to get the RAW food at his previous home but they switched him to BB chicken. I was just about to switch him to Lamb to see how it all works out. If it would eliminate his ears issue. As I have heard Chicken is a big allergy for dogs.

So now I have read this thread and I am lost...very lost
I think I would like to do both. Raw and kibble. But I really liked the pot of yummy stew.
I didn't know bones were good as long as they were not cooked. Thank you for that info. I agree with the post of dog kibble and shelf life......kinda makes you shake your head.
How do you balance raw and kibble to make sure the are getting everything and not too much of something else?
Is there sites on how to cook for your dog?
And I truly do not know what dog food to switch Murphy to now.

 

[mastiffmedic]

I would avoid any dog food thats owned by the same company that runs Iams and Eukanuba. Proctor and Gamble have many recalls under their belt, not something I would put my trust in.