Going Raw?

[cliffdog]

Originally Posted by AdrianneIsabel

We have to keep kibble with Sloans raw to keep her poop solid, go figure.

I tried to keep it several hours apart when I first started, but it's been about a year now and I don't bother separating it anymore. I haven't seen a single issue.

[naturalfeddogs]

Originally Posted by cliffdog

People say don't mix, but my grandpa always mixed kibble and ground raw with his greyhounds, and the only health problem they ever had was HORRIBLE teeth.

Some will be ok with mixing, but for the most part, it causes digestive issues a majority of the time.

[cliffdog]

Originally Posted by sillysally

I'm worried about both choking and bowel obstruction from eating a too large chunk of something. Jack has had bowel obstruction surgery from swallowing a pair of panties whole...

Why not feed ground?

In my experience, it's really bad for their teeth. My grandpa's poor greyhounds had teeth rotting out of their skulls by the time they were five or six. I guess if you do regular dentals it won't be a problem, but I hate putting dogs under anesthesia once a year to clean their teeth.

[naturalfeddogs]

Thats why with raw you really need bone. Thats what keeps the teeth so clean.

[sassafras]

Originally Posted by AdrianneIsabel

We have to keep kibble with Sloans raw to keep her poop solid, go figure.

Squash is the same way. All kibble? No good. All raw? No good. Mixed? Good.


And almost all greyhounds have crappy teeth no matter what you do IME. You can always give recreational bones if you choose to feed ground.

[Emily]

Funny, I know tons of dogs with teeth that improved dramatically after changing from kibble to ground (and only ground) raw.

Anyway, I think you'll probably be pleased with kibble/ground raw combo. It certainly isn't any worse for their teeth than kibble alone, and likely better to some degree. If it doesn't work for you dogs, it doesn't work, but it's certainly worth a try.

With gulpers, it's nice if you can feed big chunks, however, my gulper also has a glacial metabolism and cannot eat chunks big enough to be safe and also maintain a healthy weight. And yes, dogs DO get themselves into trouble with gulping. I would never say it's "usually fine". Mackenzy had to have a whole drumstick cut out of her stomach at the e-vets, so please do exercise due caution if you know your dog is a gulper!

[AdrianneIsabel]

We have a bucket of marrow and nylabones by the back door, I don't stress bone in meals as much because of this and it is a great option for others who don't want to feed bone in daily meals.

Ex of bone bucket:

[Greenmagick]

Originally Posted by Emily

And yes, dogs DO get themselves into trouble with gulping. I would never say it's "usually fine". Mackenzy had to have a whole drumstick cut out of her stomach at the e-vets, so please do exercise due caution if you know your dog is a gulper!

I still stand by its usually fine. There are sometimes when its not, but IME its fairly rare for there to be an issue. I did not say "oh no worries, it never happens" which would be false.

[naturalfeddogs]

There can be issues with kibble, as well as socks being swallowed, rocks etc... Just because someone had an issue with a drumstick really doesn't mean anything. Sounds like a drumstick was too small.

[sassafras]

LOL, it sure meant something for THAT dog.

I *feed* raw, and I'm so tired of "raw can do no wrong."