RAW Feeding

[da.drew]

A an out and out RAW feeder, I wonde if someone could give me some advise please?

I have two ESS, the eldest, Holly is three and weighs 13kilos, the youngest, Storm is 16 months and weighs 24kilos, neither is fat!

I know that as adults I should be feeding about 3% body weight a day.

There daily diet is:

Holly, according to the 3% guide, should be on about 390g a day.
Morning - 200g Minced Meat + some small chunks of Beef or Tripe = 225g, Evening - 125g Minced Meat + 100g Mixed Veggies , TOTAL = 450g

Storm, according to the 3% guide, should be on about 720g a day.
Morning - 200g Minced Meat + some small chunks of Beef or Tripe = 225g, Evening - 275g Minced Meat + 300g Mixed Veggies , TOTAL = 800g

My question is:

Does this seem like enough food (Holly always looks for more) and is giving veggies everyday a bad idea? I was feeding much less but I found that two much chicken made there bussiness very white (I was told this was because they werte getting to much bone!)

[jeffD]

Lots of bone will give white poo, Is the mince you are feeding chicken as this will generally have lots of bone.
With regard to how much just look at you dogs if skinny give more if you cant feel ribs or they have no waist feed less, I don't really think you can just go by 3% rule, like us all dogs are different and it will also depend on how much exercise they are getting.

I don't really feed much veg , Teal eats enough grass and garden plants to keep a sheep happy.
What I don't see in your post is any offal its important to feed some liver/kidney

[da.drew]

What I don't see in your post is any offal its important to feed some liver/kidney

Mixed in with the chicken! I also feed lung as well, normally just chunk it up for them.

[Springfield Pointers]

I give mine a minced mixture of Lung, Liver, Heart and kidney fat. Chicken necks and chicken hearts are added from time to time as are eggs complete with shells. I also ask my butcher for the saw shavings which he gives me, this is very rich in fat, bone and marrow. Further to that I give them a good meaty bone at least once a week (I don't leave bones lying around as it invites conflict so I am always nearby during bone scoffing - take them away once they are done), the ball ends of beef femurs (I cut away the length of the femur and just give them the meaty ends) From time to time I will give them a whole chicken each which they love. To add to their diet when we go hunting, I just add suet or canned sardines/pilchards. If you want a filler to bulk up, rice is good.

[Bogtrotter]

Does this seem like enough food

I haven't weighed food since the first 6 months or so of feeding raw (well over 15 years ago!!) Just go by the feel and appearance of your dogs imo and adjust food amounts accordingly. There are so many variables I believe it's impossible to issue a hard and fast rule!

Fiona

[Springfield Pointers]

Does this seem like enough food

I haven't weighed food since the first 6 months or so of feeding raw (well over 15 years ago!!) Just go by the feel and appearance of your dogs imo and adjust food amounts accordingly. There are so many variables I believe it's impossible to issue a hard and fast rule!

Fiona

Quite right. It's very simple, if your dog is getting fat, cut down the food and if it's getting thin, increase it... Don't get hooked up on mathematical formulations.

[da.drew]

Thanks and what about the amount of veg, is it to much?

[Bogtrotter]

Thanks and what about the amount of veg, is it to much?

I wouldn't have said so. My lot have a breakfast of fruit and veg+natural yogurt and a few other "supplements" and have their bones/fish/offal or whatever in the evening. I've always done that and it works well. They definitely get even more veggies than you're feeding and it does them well, so I wouldn't worry!

Fiona

[Springfield Pointers]

Thanks and what about the amount of veg, is it to much?

I hardly, if ever, give my dogs any veggies, I would assume it should not be the main ingredient of the meal if you do feed it.

[da.drew]

See now this is where I have the problem, everybody feeds different with success so everybosys right, so do dogs need veggies or do we give it because someone said there are lots of good things in it.