Associate
- Joined
- 8 Jul 2010
- Posts
- 865
- Location
- Staffordshire
[EDIT]
I must clarify that THE BONES MUST BE RAW, I don't mean to shout but people must know this because cooked bones represent a serious health risk.
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I was talking to my dad earlier about the cost of feeding our four dogs. I was just reading the "get to know your local butcher!" and it made me think I should share with you guys how we feed our dogs and why I think it's the way to go.
There are currently four adult dogs in the house, soon to be five, and to feed them all it cost around £10 a week on average. Now that includes the meat, vegtables and "treats".
The "treats" are raw chicken wings, bone and all (just the economy 10 for £2 sort) that have been frozen, which is really important. Freezing kills any harmful bacteria making them safe to eat,although the stomach acid of a dog can deal with all kinds of nasties, just think what they lick each day, freezing for hygiene is more for the humans in the house. The bones clean the dogs teeth as they chew and will improve your dogs/cats breath (yes, even cats can eat 'em). When the animal has crunched the bone up, they digest it and just the bone ash is left. This is another benefit of feeding a diet based on raw meaty bones, more bone ash means dryer... yule logs ('tis the season). I don't want to get too graphic but it's easier to clean up and chances are, your dog can stand right in it and it'll just flake off, I've seen it with my own eyes. Even if you decide raw feeding isn't for you, I implore you to give Chicken wings a try, it replaces all those overpriced dentastick teeth cleaning chews and does a much better job and dogs adore them. Just remember to freeze them first, and of course defrost them before you give them to your dog.
Just think about it logically, dogs are carnivores, designed to eat whole prey, not cooked, dehydrated, manufactured food which contains lots of filler ingredients and makes pet food a billion pound industry in this country alone.
We feed each dog a portion of meat which has been frozen and then defrosted before serving and varies between-
Chicken on the bone
Minced Chicken (bone included)
Rabbit
Ox Hearts
Tripe
minced beef and lamb (WARNING: freezing minced beef is essential as it can contain a bacteria that can be deadly to dogs when it hasn't been frozen. However, freezing kills the bacteria so in this case freezing the meat is mostly for the sake of the dog.)
Lamb ribs and neck of lamb
There are also some excellent pre-packaged raw fooods, I can't remember the names at the moment but if there's any interest I'll find out.
-and a portion of vegetables which usually comprises, Carrot, Swede, Peppers, apple and Spinach but can include many other things in season, in fact most vegetables and fruit but not members of the Alliceae family (onions and garlic) which are toxic to dogs.
It's a little more work to prepare and you'll need a food processor to make mincing the vegtables much quicker but, and this is where I really start sound like an evangelist, it's a lot cheaper than dry food and much, much better for your dog.
The whole philosophy/idea of feeding raw is to replicate the diet the animal is evolved to thrive on.
Here's a couple of great websites with a lot more infromation-
http://www.rawmeatybones.com/
http://www.bluehousevets.com/
If anyone has any questions, I'm happy to answer them if I can and if not, I'll ask my sister who works for the Kennel Club or next time I see her I could ask the real expert in the family, my mom.
I must clarify that THE BONES MUST BE RAW, I don't mean to shout but people must know this because cooked bones represent a serious health risk.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
I was talking to my dad earlier about the cost of feeding our four dogs. I was just reading the "get to know your local butcher!" and it made me think I should share with you guys how we feed our dogs and why I think it's the way to go.
There are currently four adult dogs in the house, soon to be five, and to feed them all it cost around £10 a week on average. Now that includes the meat, vegtables and "treats".
The "treats" are raw chicken wings, bone and all (just the economy 10 for £2 sort) that have been frozen, which is really important. Freezing kills any harmful bacteria making them safe to eat,although the stomach acid of a dog can deal with all kinds of nasties, just think what they lick each day, freezing for hygiene is more for the humans in the house. The bones clean the dogs teeth as they chew and will improve your dogs/cats breath (yes, even cats can eat 'em). When the animal has crunched the bone up, they digest it and just the bone ash is left. This is another benefit of feeding a diet based on raw meaty bones, more bone ash means dryer... yule logs ('tis the season). I don't want to get too graphic but it's easier to clean up and chances are, your dog can stand right in it and it'll just flake off, I've seen it with my own eyes. Even if you decide raw feeding isn't for you, I implore you to give Chicken wings a try, it replaces all those overpriced dentastick teeth cleaning chews and does a much better job and dogs adore them. Just remember to freeze them first, and of course defrost them before you give them to your dog.
Just think about it logically, dogs are carnivores, designed to eat whole prey, not cooked, dehydrated, manufactured food which contains lots of filler ingredients and makes pet food a billion pound industry in this country alone.
We feed each dog a portion of meat which has been frozen and then defrosted before serving and varies between-
Chicken on the bone
Minced Chicken (bone included)
Rabbit
Ox Hearts
Tripe
minced beef and lamb (WARNING: freezing minced beef is essential as it can contain a bacteria that can be deadly to dogs when it hasn't been frozen. However, freezing kills the bacteria so in this case freezing the meat is mostly for the sake of the dog.)
Lamb ribs and neck of lamb
There are also some excellent pre-packaged raw fooods, I can't remember the names at the moment but if there's any interest I'll find out.
-and a portion of vegetables which usually comprises, Carrot, Swede, Peppers, apple and Spinach but can include many other things in season, in fact most vegetables and fruit but not members of the Alliceae family (onions and garlic) which are toxic to dogs.
It's a little more work to prepare and you'll need a food processor to make mincing the vegtables much quicker but, and this is where I really start sound like an evangelist, it's a lot cheaper than dry food and much, much better for your dog.
The whole philosophy/idea of feeding raw is to replicate the diet the animal is evolved to thrive on.
Here's a couple of great websites with a lot more infromation-
http://www.rawmeatybones.com/
http://www.bluehousevets.com/
If anyone has any questions, I'm happy to answer them if I can and if not, I'll ask my sister who works for the Kennel Club or next time I see her I could ask the real expert in the family, my mom.
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Depending on the fish he gets I may cut spiny Fins off too, other than that he gets the whole thing, skin and all, loves it.