Update on Cinder's Raw Diet

[Winter's Cinder]

Well, we are few more weeks in to starting this raw diet (i forget how long because my coffee hasn't kicked in yet and I'm too lazy to math right now) and cinder seems to be doing great!!

We have progressed through the introduction stages of chicken, pork, venison, and beef.. I will maybe introduce some fish when it gets warmer here but for now, these 4 proteins will be the staples...

I will confess I splurged last week and bought a boneless beef roast for her... once I got home I had some buyers remorse because beef is so expensive here right now... so i got creative and decided I could make myself feel better about such a purchase for the dog of the house (i know she is our fur baby, but she still is a DOG!!) If i could stretch it over a weeks time... I was gonna have to add in some chicken backs for the bone content anyway, so I grabbed the beef heart that's been sitting in the freezer forever and used it too...

I know most people would already know to do this, but I'm new to all this, so I thought I was pretty clever...lol... anyway it added to her daily variety!!

Also last week, Cinder got her very first raw egg... I was boiling some eggs and one was cracked on the bottom in the carton, and when I pulled it out part of the shell stuck so it had a hole in it... I decided I would put it in with Cinder's supper to see how she did with it... well... she ate all the food around it in the bowl first. .. then it kind of tipped over in her bowl so she was rolling it around in there as she was licking up the goodie that was leaking out... lol... finally she looked at it a couple times and hit it with her nose and then gave it a chomp!! It was gone!!!

And lastly, this morning I gave her a whole chicken leg with her breakfast... (I have been chopping up most of her food into 1-3 inch pieces because she is still young even if she is almost 14 weeks) I wanted to see if all this cutting and cleavering was gonna eventually give my poor hands and arms a break... she again ate all the food around it at first. .. then she proceeded to lick it around and around in her bowl... she started nibbling it a bit, and got it out of the bowl... as she was figuring it all out, she decided it was too much work to stand and eat... she then laid down on her side and chomped chomped chomped away!! It took her a few mins but she got it!!

I'm looking forward to making her pieces of food bigger so I can eventually cut down the cleaver action!!! Next week I should be getting my first haul of 'throw away' from the local locker... im also looking forward to having more beef heart for her beef variety!!!

Sent from my SM-N910P using Tapatalk

 

[tmricciuto]

Outstanding update. Are you sourcing most of this through your local butcher and the grocery stores? I'm still working on where I'm going to source my 4 staple proteins as I need to keep the cost down to about $1.50/lb since I have to feed two heavy girls (Sage just hit 100 lbs on Sat). What percentage of her weight are you feeding her if you don't mind my asking?

 

[Winter's Cinder]

Outstanding update. Are you sourcing most of this through your local butcher and the grocery stores? I'm still working on where I'm going to source my 4 staple proteins as I need to keep the cost down to about $1.50/lb since I have to feed two heavy girls (Sage just hit 100 lbs on Sat). What percentage of her weight are you feeding her if you don't mind my asking?

Most of what I've gotten is the local meat counter... I hit a pretty good sale on whole chicken a few weeks ago and bought a case, chopped them up, and froze them... ive found some ok sales with pork, and with the exception of the beef roast last week, most beef and venison came out of our freezer...

I live in a farming community in iowa, so I expect most prices will be coming down soon as we get to the warmer months...

Im having trouble sourcing some "throw away" parts because even though there seems to be quite a few small custom butchers around here, they refuse to sell that stuff because it's all based on what the customer wants, and they can't really legally sell/give away the stuff they throw away...

I have been in contact with a bigger locker about 30-45 mins away... he agreed to keep hearts and livers for me along with trechea... he did refuse me the beef stomach for tripe because he didn't want to mess with "that mess" as he called it, but I plan on asking him again once we've established a better relationship... I dont mind getting the whole intestinal track and cutting it myself if it's easier for him, but I think it's gonna a little time and proven trust to show him I'm not trying to make money off his throw aways... he was very up front with me about some troubles he's had with other people trying to make a quick buck, so I completely understand his position...

As far as what percentage of her weight... im feeding her 2 1/4 - 2.5 lbs a day... im estimating this off her projected adult weight of 150 lbs (most models said 3% of that)... so its a little under that 3%... I dont have a scale to weigh her everyday and I don't take her to the vet every week so this was the easiest way for me to figure her daily diet... I started her with 3 lbs a day but she was starting to be a bit bloated after her meals so I cut it back to adjust..

I keep a close eye on her ribs and her general overall looks... and adjust her intake from there... 2 1/4 lbs is the majority of what she gets daily, but she does have growth spurts and looks thinner some days so I add in that extra 1/4 lb for a few days to balance her out..

It sounds like a lot of work, and I was really worried when we started raw that I'd be able to keep up with it... but now that we've really committed to it, it's not that hard once we've gotten the routine down...

Sent from my SM-N910P using Tapatalk

 

[angelbears]

Excellent! Cinder is a lucky dog.

tmricciuto, all my dogs have eaten about 2% of their body weight, not counting the numerous treats they get during the day. Justice is eating 3 pounds a day, he is 17 weeks old and about 58 pounds. A little over a year old is when they settled into the 2 to 3 % guidance.

 

[tmricciuto]

tmricciuto, all my dogs have eaten about 2% of their body weight, not counting the numerous treats they get during the day. Justice is eating 3 pounds a day, he is 17 weeks old and about 58 pounds. A little over a year old is when they settled into the 2 to 3 % guidance.

Is that 2% of their expected adult body weight or of their current weight?

 

[angelbears]

No, that is 2% of their adult weight, once they reach about 56 months. Justice is getting about 5% at 17 weeks. Below is a link with some loose guidelines on how much they should eat week by week while they are puppies. Remember, these are suggested quantities and most charts are based on smaller breeds that have a higher metabolism.

http://dogsdinner2.webs.com/feedingpuppies.htm

 

[NYDDB]

Wow- you really should be the poster child of how to figure out raw feeding; awesome update.

Sometimes I believe people really over-think this whole raw feeding business; it's not as difficult as it seems, and you just gotta take the plunge and learn as you go. You also have a nice situation, being in farm country in Iowa, but even somebody like me, a starving artist in New York City can make it work!

 

[TricAP]

I agree with Suanne - I know I really overthought it in the beginning. I started out with a spread sheet and weighting everything each meal. Now after doing it for a year its all by eye. We originally did the 3% of expected adult weight when we switched Angus over at about 6 months. Found out that was way too much food for him so cut back to around 2% pretty quick. Body conformation was our best guide - wanted to see his waste and a glimmer ribs. Now at around 160 lbs we average about 3 lbs of food a day, but he has been very inactive this winter and I expect as it warms up and we are spending more time outside his appetite will increase with activity again. Also each meal doesn't have to be perfectly balanced - we shoot for a weekly average and sometimes its more of a monthly one depending on what I have on hand.

 

[DennasMom]

I agree with everyone above, too... Great Update!

Denna's also on the lower end of the % scale (1.7% of current adult weight) - I also keep an eye on physique and adjust as needed. DH took her on a 5k yesterday around the 'hood... so she got a bigger than normal breakfast today.

I will say, one good thing about these big pups (among many), is the lower energy level, which means lower calorie expenditures, which leads to smaller meals. WhooHoo!

I know some 50lb border collies that eat more than my 165lb Denna - because they're out running after anything and everything all day, instead of napping, like a good house-dog. HA!

 

[Winter's Cinder]

Thanks all!! NYDDB I wouldn't say poster child...lol... but thanks for the compliment!!
I will admit before we started and I was researching everything, it was a bit overwhelming. .. but I decided to just do it... im so glad we did!!
I'm extremely greatful for this forum and all the help and support you guys have given me!!!

Sent from my SM-N910P using Tapatalk

 

[BAMCB]

Yes^^^ what a fabulous update! And Cinder is a very lucky girl.

I was very worried because Chica was gaining at 2% so I cut her back to 1.8%, so happy to hear Denna is about the same. My 62# puppy eats as much as Chica and is very lean still. Ask me about his energy on a good day and you'll still get the eye roll. Lol

Balance over time was my hardest concept to grab. Now I'm like "we're good" as I throw together a meal Hahahaha I think you are doing great! And this forum is definitely the most awesome place to come for advice.

 

[NYDDB]

Yep- "balance over time" was a concept I heard from somebody else, on another forum...and it makes so much common sense.

These days, I don't weigh Mateo's food; just measure by eye, and really--- his weight has barely budged from his 143 'happy weight.' It may dip below a few pounds, up a few pounds, but for the most part, his body likes to stay at 143, despite what I do, lol.

 

[NYDDB]

ETA- I also give him about 3 pounds per day...(based on last time I actually weighed his food; and now go "by eye-balling it, and the "feel" of the weight in my hands. His weight stays stable.

 

[skylarneo]

We have been feeding out NM 8mth old Skylar raw from about 16 weeks onwards. Over the last month we have been making our own based on the following:

10% Vegies and Fruit
30% Vets All Natural (http://www.vetsallnatural.com.au/)
60% Meat
****** - 80% Meat
****** - 10% Bone
****** - 10% Offal
**************** - 50% Liver
**************** - 50% Giblets, Hearts etc
Whole raw egg including shell (based on one egg per day)
Sardines (for that extra bit of something )

Example (makes 10kg):

4kg Chicken meat e.g chicken breast
500g Liver
500g Heart, Giblets etc.

1.66kg Vets All Complete
500g Vegie and Fruit mix

I use a grinder to grind up the meat and bones and puree the vegies and fruit.

Skylar loves it



Sent from my SM-G900I using Tapatalk

 

[Winter's Cinder]

Cinder has been doing well with the whole chicken legs... this morning I gave her a whole thigh along with the leg (separate pieces) and she chomped and chomped to her little hearts content!!
Looks like my hands and arms are gonna get some relief from that cleaver action!!!

Sent from my SM-N910P using Tapatalk

 

[Winter's Cinder]

So I went to get my first box of throw away goodies from the local meat locker this afternoon...
Got 2 hearts, a grocery bag full of trechea, a giant bowl of liver, and these 2 kidneys (at least I think that's what they are) .... all for $10!! I'm not sure I needed all this liver right now but I'll take it!!!

So do I feed the kidneys like liver (organ) or like heart (meat)?
And I know I asked for the trechea, but do I dehydrate it and use it as a chewie? Or just give her a chunk and let her go at it?

Sent from my SM-N910P using Tapatalk

 

[BAMCB]

Awesome bag of goodies!!!Yep, that looks like kidney and yes to feeding as an organ meat. For the trachea I feed it raw as a treat. It will not go through a grinder as we found out the hard way. And we have not dried it yet. Not sure about the cartilage and drying if it may be an issue, someone here might pipe in about it. It's easy to cut through if you find the joint type area. Congrats on your first haul and down the rabbit hole you fall lol

 

[Winter's Cinder]

Awesome bag of goodies!!!Yep, that looks like kidney and yes to feeding as an organ meat. For the trachea I feed it raw as a treat. It will not go through a grinder as we found out the hard way. And we have not dried it yet. Not sure about the cartilage and drying if it may be an issue, someone here might pipe in about it. It's easy to cut through if you find the joint type area. Congrats on your first haul and down the rabbit hole you fall lol

I could tell the butcher guy was trying not to laugh at how excited I was... lmao!!
Thanks for the tips!!! From the looks of the trechea... he cut it to fit in the grocery bag and them he froze it until I got there... I threw it in the fridge until I could check it out more closely tomorrow...
Cinder sure was interested when I carried the box in... and the kids were super curious as I was separating everything out into bowls from the garbage bag... they decided upon just the looks of the liver they wanted nothing to do with it... they thought the kidneys look weird... and the trechea.... they thought it looked like big versions of their cup straws!!!

Sent from my SM-N910P using Tapatalk

 

[Winter's Cinder]

Thought I would share a photo today of cinder enjoying a new chewie.... my 4 yr old son thinks it disgusting!!! LMAO!!!

Sent from my SM-N910P using Tapatalk

 

[angelbears]

Yummy! A great chew and a beautiful puppy.