Raw food diet for pets

persisting1 · « **on:** 11 Aug 2013, 08:27 pm »

Ok, I'm sure this is not the correct circle, so please move it if it isn't.

I'm considering putting my two cats on a raw food diet. One of them has a very sensitive stomach and i cannot find a dry food that will work with both of them. I've tried so many that I think it's time to go raw. I know cats are not supposed to eat dry since they are carnivores, but it's just so convenient.

Does anyone feed their cats or dogs raw? If so, what do you feed them?

FullRangeMan · « **Reply #1 on:** 11 Aug 2013, 08:32 pm »

Every time I gave my cats to raw meat they got intestinal worms, then the correct is give cooked meat without salt.

Unfortunately no salt rations have a high price per kilo.

JerryM · « **Reply #2 on:** 11 Aug 2013, 08:57 pm »

My cat won't eat anything raw, even fish. Then again, he despises "human" food, even bacon. He does, however, have an unusual taste for Parmigiano Reggiano, but no other form of cheese, including other Parmesans.

That having been said, if I change the type or brand of his dry food he rejects it for two weeks straight before he eats any (bitching the entire time). Once he starts to eat it, he pukes all over the house for days. Thinking about it, I'd be kind of pissed if someone changed my diet, too.

Talk to a Veterinarian. If necessary, talk to several (it's not much different than finding a doctor for yourself). Veterinarians love animals; they will give you the best advice, and are remarkably open to free discussions.

Feel free to post about your two cats here.

Best of luck,

Jerry

persisting1 · « **Reply #3 on:** 11 Aug 2013, 09:04 pm »

Intestinal worms would not be something I'd want.

I have talked to my Vet and I'm trying to find what one of my cats is allergic to. I've used limited ingredient foods and he still gets very sick off of it. Cats are very fickle and throwing up does occur when changing their diets. I agree, I wouldn't enjoy that either! A pet nutritionist is helping me find the problem. It's a very messy problem and I feel bad for them.

Thanks for the link JerryM. Do you think this post should be moved there?

Maritan · « **Reply #4 on:** 11 Aug 2013, 09:06 pm »

I have three dogs that are all completely fed raw food. One them is a 14 year old Dalmatian and the only reason I still have her with me is because she has been fed raw food for the last two or so years. I was starting to lose her and I was desperate to find something that would give her a longer life but without bringing down her quality of life. Raw food has given me more time with her. Raw food has also made so many positive changes in my Border Collies that as long as I can afford to feed them raw, they will be.

Anyway, I'll tell you what I feed my two BCs as they get a more "normal" raw diet. (Dalmatians have a genetic condition that necessitates feeding them a special version of the raw diet.) My BCs are fed prey model raw. They get an 80-10-10 split of meat-bones-organs. Basically, they get "frankenprey". For example, this morning's meal for my BCs consisted of a turkey neck and ground elk and venison with bone (bone meal). Last night they got beef heart, lamb kidney/ or liver, beef green tripe, ground ostrich and maybe some more ground elk and venison.

This evening, they'll get an egg, sardines and a combination of what I've listed above.

I don't know much about feeding cats, but I do know this: They can be fussy. If dogs are fussy, you can starve them a meal or two and sooner or later they will eat. You cannot starve cats apparently because they will starve themselves to death.

There are plenty of resources online to feed raw. Let me know if you would like some help finding them.

FullRangeMan · « **Reply #5 on:** 11 Aug 2013, 09:12 pm »

Cats like salt, but they can not eat salt, obviously to addict the pet in feed the food manufacturers put salt, dyes and other chemicals.

JerryM · « **Reply #6 on:** 11 Aug 2013, 09:20 pm »

Quote from: persisting1 on 11 Aug 2013, 09:04 pm

Do you think this post should be moved there?

No; the serving of raw food is a culinary art.

The post is welcomed, though, if it needs to be moved.

JerryM · « **Reply #7 on:** 11 Aug 2013, 09:22 pm »

Quote from: FULLRANGEMAN on 11 Aug 2013, 09:12 pm

Cats like salt, but they can not eat salt, obviously to addict the pet in feed the food manufacturers put salt, dyes and other chemicals.

All mammals need salt. That's why they sell salt licks for cattle, and hamsters.

FullRangeMan · « **Reply #8 on:** 11 Aug 2013, 09:24 pm »

There are some rations that are fruit based(no meat or fish) and contains no salt.
The salt clogs the kidney's cats.

JerryM · « **Reply #9 on:** 11 Aug 2013, 09:34 pm »

Quote from: FULLRANGEMAN on 11 Aug 2013, 09:24 pm

There are some rations that are fruit based(no meat or fish) and contains no salt.
The salt clogs the kidney's cats.

I can't say I've ever seen a fruit based mouse.

Mice do, however, contain a fair amount of "salt".

Magnesium is far more likely than sodium to cause problems for cats.

persisting1 · « **Reply #10 on:** 11 Aug 2013, 09:36 pm »

Maritan, it sounds like your dogs are doing really well on raw. I know a few people who have said that a raw diet has really improved their pets lives. I'm considering a frankenprey raw diet.

There's also companies like My Pet Carnivore that offers whole course ground animals that are very beneficial for cats. They offer whole ground chicken with 1/3 added heart, liver and gizzard meats. The only problem is that it has to be shipped 2 day air. The price to ship it to the west coast isn't worth it.

Maritan · « **Reply #11 on:** 11 Aug 2013, 09:41 pm »

Find a local raw food co-op. That's how I get food for my dogs. I have a chest freezer and buy food in bulk so it gets a little easier. I will say that I prefer feeding chunks and pieces over feeding ground. That way, they also get mental stimulation while they eat because they have to figure HOW to eat it.

Feeding raw is work, but it is more than worth it for the benefits that I have seen.

ETA: I see you're in LA. I'm absolutely certain you can find a co-op there. If I can find one in Arizona, I'm sure there are enough pet crazy people there to be able to help you out.

persisting1 · « **Reply #12 on:** 11 Aug 2013, 10:22 pm »

Quote

ETA: I see you're in LA. I'm absolutely certain you can find a co-op there. If I can find one in Arizona, I'm sure there are enough pet crazy people there to be able to help you out.

I've been meaning to send an email to my local co-op. Thank you for the reminder

schw06 · « **Reply #13 on:** 11 Aug 2013, 11:09 pm »

We feed our Bernese Mountain dog 1-2 raw, bone in, skin on chicken quarters in the morning and at night he gets 1/3 pound of raw ground turkey with a cup of kibble and a heaping spoon full of a concoction of collard greens, eggs with shell, olive oil, and apple cider vinegar. We will occasionally throw some mashed blueberries in as well. There are so many benefits of not feeding your beloved pet the equivalent of McDonalds every day (most commercial kibbles). Two simple but important benefits include never needing to have their teeth cleaned and never needing to have their anal glands expressed. We will never go back to a kibble centric diet.

rbbert · « **Reply #14 on:** 12 Aug 2013, 12:13 am »

We've been feeding our dogs raw for over 8 yrs. One Border Collie Aussie mix who didn't start it until he was 14, but his chronic skin problem with "hot spots" disappeared (forever) within 2 months; he lived another year and a half. We've had two pit bull mixes who have done very well also; one just celebrated his 16th birthday. We also have 3 miniature Dachshunds who of course would eat anything, but they are all in excellent health.

As noted, cats tend to be pickier eaters and it may take a while to find what yours likes.

There are listservs for raw pet feeding.

Rob Babcock · « **Reply #15 on:** 12 Aug 2013, 01:35 am »

Wow! I don't have a dog but this is a very interesting topic. I love dogs and cats (most animals, really) and will probably own a pet again down the road. It makes a lot of sense- humans run better on real food so why shouldn't animals?

Maritan · « **Reply #16 on:** 12 Aug 2013, 02:56 am »

Quote from: Rob Babcock on 12 Aug 2013, 01:35 am

It makes a lot of sense- humans run better on real food so why shouldn't animals?

And, that, in a nutshell is exactly why I feed raw. My dogs did well, even great on kibble (premium, but still). Once I switched them to raw, they've done even better. It just makes sense. Dogs are canines, and while they can survive on anything they absolutely thrive on raw.

Good luck with your search for better health for your cats. Hope you find the help you need.

persisting1 · « **Reply #17 on:** 12 Aug 2013, 04:32 am »

Quote

Good luck with your search for better health for your cats. Hope you find the help you need.

Thanks. I'll be joining my local BARF. I will no longer feel bad after feeding them.

rockadanny · « **Reply #18 on:** 12 Aug 2013, 12:50 pm »

We used this source (Wendy Volhard) to feed our dog a supplemented raw diet. She has for cats as well:

http://www.volharddognutrition.com/ndf-pm-cat-recipe.html

persisting1 · « **Reply #19 on:** 12 Aug 2013, 08:47 pm »

Quote from: rockadanny on 12 Aug 2013, 12:50 pm

We used this source (Wendy Volhard) to feed our dog a supplemented raw diet. She has for cats as well:

http://www.volharddognutrition.com/ndf-pm-cat-recipe.html

That is a very interesting diet. I'm really trying to get them off dry kibble, but it does seem to be a good alternative to a full raw diet. I tried Acana and Orijen, but it didn't work for us