Help starting with Raw Diet?

I have six dogs (ages 10 years,8 years,5 years,4 years,3.5 years, and 8 months). Five boys and one girl (don't think that would matter for this, as well as the fact they're all spayed and neutered). From oldest to youngest we have a Beagle/Basset mix, a Shepherd/Husky mix, a Lab/Golden Retriever mix, a Pit/Boxer mix, a Border Collie, and a Bloodhound/Ridgeback mix. I really want to start them on a raw food diet, but am not finding much on line about how to start, and recipes. I know there are a lot of raw food advocates on here and I was wondering where to begin.

Thanks in advance!!Help starting with Raw Diet?
There are no recipes. It's just raw meat, organs, and meaty bones. No mixing, stirring, cooking, spicing, or supplementing required for a healthy balanced raw food diet!



You start with 1-2 weeks of just chicken RMBs. Whole chickens or chicken quarters are fine for your pack. Feed 2-3% of each dog's body weight. You can adjust the amount you need to feed as you notice any weight change in them.



Try joining the yahoo groups "rawfeeding" and "RawChat" for more indepth discussion and help.



Add: Oh I don't feed veggies, but if you want to for whatever reason that's fine. I have read vegetables should not make up more than 1/4 of the overall diet. There's no need for veggies though because they get all the vitamins, minerals, enzymes,antioxidants and all that good stuff from the meat,organs and bone. Veggies are good fillers though.



Sorry but Cookie is misleading. Any time a dog has broken teeth or another raw food problem, is due to owner error. Good raw feeders don't feed "break bones" We don't feed weight bearing bones of large mammals like beef marrow or knuckle bones. Every raw feeder has to be aware of what their dog can handle.(obviously a sheltie can't eat the same as a shepherd/husky mix)



The cost for my 2 dogs, 67 lbs and 25 lbs (eating a total of about 4 lbs a day) was $95 for both of them for 2 months. (I have an extra freezer i store it in) I feed mostly pasture raised, hormone and antibiotic free. It's really not that expensive, just know to look around and use every option you can. A 5lb bag of California Natural cost over $10. I buy meat for $2/lb or under. It's cheaper than high quality kibble.



I forgot to mention!!!! Veggies need to be cooked and should be pureed if the dog is to get any nutrients from them, because dogs can't break down the plant cell wall like omnivores and herbivores can.

To me this is a really tough call because studies show veggies lose half their nutrients right from when they are picked, cooking destroys even more..so do dogs get anything from it? But as fillers I don't think they do any harm.Help starting with Raw Diet?
Begin here;



http://www.books.nap.edu/openbook.php?re鈥?/a>



Now go to http://www.ms.com/catalogue/productindex鈥?/a>



The last is Monica Segals site for her pamphlet on raw diets that will show you how to do it so your dog stays healthy. Feeding raw correctly is a science and not a matter of tossing some meat and veggies in a dish and calling it a healthy balanced diet. For the number of dogs you mention, it will be an expensive alternative to a good quality kibble, and no matter what the raw feeders tell you, it isn't the best way to go.....not if you don't do it right. Raw bones can and do break teeth......when I fed raw I had two shelties break back molars, and my vet has had quite a few come in to her practice with impacted bone in the gut. Brushing daily, and good genes produce good teeth.......just like with us.Help starting with Raw Diet?
I had a hard time starting my dog on a raw diet too. It's something you just have to do.



I would advise starting on a Friday night (or a night where you will be home the next day). That way if your dogs have upset stomachs, you will be home to let them out.



I fasted my dog for 24 hours before, but I don't know if it's really necessary. Then just give them a piece of chicken. Feed them nothing but chicken for the first couple weeks, until their stomachs settle. Then introduce new food one food at a time (that way, if something upsets their stomach, you know what's causing it).



Make sure you have plenty of chicken on hand before you start, and have figured out how much each dog will need. I recommend getting a kitchen scale if you don't have one already. And know where they will be eating. When it's nice out, I just feed my dog outside. I have a plastic table cloth I can put down inside if the weather is crappy. Some people use crates.



Good luck! I noticed great results with my dog, and am sure you will too!



ADD: I feed my dog veggies. Not everyone does, but I found my dog was having stomach problems when I wasn't. She only has them a few times a week. You will have to try things with your dogs, and see what works for them.Help starting with Raw Diet?
The diet I have fed my dogs for well over 15 years is like this:- 60% Raw Meaty Bones. (And don't forget the meat.) This can be chicken wings, for example......they have an excellent ratio of meat, bone and fat. The rest of the diet consists of other meats, and of these, 10% should be offal. Remember that any offal you give is included in the 10%.....it's not 10% liver and 10% kidney, etc. It's 10% in total. I have a "starter"menu on the site below. You are welcome to join and use the recipe......you will also have lots of help starting out.



Cookie has said that it's hard to balance a raw diet. That's not true, but people like Monica Segal want you to believe it's true, because that's how they make their money. Also, it's very cheap......especially as your vet visits literally disappear!!