[patricky]

Me and mum have two labrador/staffie crosses. We love them do much.

Rather than feed them kibble (which dogs hate) we feed them raw meat plus rice and vegtables. We also give them our scraps and a couple of dog multivitamins a day. Plus we give them milk/water drinks in the evening.

Is there anything else wer should be doing for our dogs?

We don't give them kibble because of the quality of meat and the preservitives in it. Also with a couple of dogs we babysat the dogs would eat the meat and even the rice, but would leave the kibble. Which tells me they don't like it.

cheers.

[Lara's mom]

I don't know anything about feeding raw. I don't use commercial dog food either but, I cook for my dogs. There are a number of members who feed raw diets who will be able to advise you. Unfortunately, since it's the weekend it tends to be a bit slow in the forum. Be patient.

[patricky]

Originally Posted by Lara's mom

I don't know anything about feeding raw. I don't use commercial dog food either but, I cook for my dogs. There are a number of members who feed raw diets who will be able to advise you. Unfortunately, since it's the weekend it tends to be a bit slow in the forum. Be patient.

I did some research about feeding your dogs real food. It seemed to me that they thought that raw was the best.

I don't really know. We used to cook our dogs meat, but then I read all about raw meat.

We will just do what's best for our dogs, cooked or uncooked.

It's a shame vets advise kibble, even if just for the fact that dogs don't like it.
They would rather rice.

[Corky/Max]

Originally Posted by patricky

Me and mum have two labrador/staffie crosses. We love them do much.

Rather than feed them kibble (which dogs hate) we feed them raw meat plus rice and vegtables. We also give them our scraps and a couple of dog multivitamins a day. Plus we give them milk/water drinks in the evening.Milk is not a good idea--Dogs can not digest milk very well and it can also upset their stomach---Besides they need the water more and by giving them milk--they may not drink as much water! And I hope I am misunderstanding about giving drinks only in the evening??!! Fresh water should be available to your dog at all times!!

Is there anything else wer should be doing for our dogs? Since you are feeding human food (and by the way I feed raw with some home-cooking also---My dogs never get any commercial 'crappy'--and dangerous commercial dog food!) As I started to say--Since you are feeding human food, I wish you would check out a thread I did in here called Food that is Hazardous to your Dog. It is in the Dog Health and Nutrition section in this forum. You can find it (1 way) by going to the top of the page(s) in this forum--See the blue strip that goes across with all the white words to click on and find the word Search-click and put hazardous food in the search box and leave the selection on threads (not posts) Click on it and you will see the thread pretty easily. There is a lot there to read and I'll bet some dangers you never suspected!!

We don't give them kibble because of the quality of meat and the preservitives in it. Also with a couple of dogs we babysat the dogs would eat the meat and even the rice, but would leave the kibble. Which tells me they don't like it. Not only don't they not like it but it has little nutrition for them to be healthy!

I saw your other post where you said you did some research on raw feeding. I don't know what sites on this you have checked out but this is the best one: BARF for Beginners - Most Frequently Asked Questions and if you put words in your browser like--raw feeding/dogs or raw food diet/dogs you will bring up more sites and also from those sites---Will be other references to go to and also mentions books that would be good to read--Can get them from your library--They may have to get on their computer and find a library that has the specific book you are looking for and have it transfered to your library. It is a free service (Should be--It is here!) You could just tell them the subject matter (raw feeding dogs, etc) also and they could prob. tell you a list of books that would be available thru this service too. You can also go to Amazon.com and find cheap used books as well as unused. Also--You can check out the many posts/threads in this forum on this subject---Can put words like raw feeding or raw food diet, etc in the search box I mentioned above---I would choose threads over posts first and maybe try the posts after.
Can't remember what this site may have for you but prob. one to look at:
dogaware.com

I have been feeding this way for a long time and I still worry that I am doing it right! There is so much controversy. But one thing I want to impress upon you---Make sure you are feeding a balanced diet and supplementing --esp. with fish oil (Omega 3!) and calcium. Calcium is needed esp. if you don't give a lot of raw bones--One way is to sprinkle very finely crushed (pulverized) egg shells in with their food. Study this--calcium requirements--You have to be careful as too much is way not good and too little is not either! Try putting egg shells/calcium/dogs in your browser! Find the ratio of egg shell to give to the amount of meat/protein! (I am thinking it is only 1/4th tsp. crushed egg shell for every pound of meat/protein. See if you can also find the instructions on preparing the egg shells. Controversy again as to whether you should heat them up at a low temp in the oven before you crush them. Do make sure you rinse out the shells with hot water after you use the eggs to get rid of the 'slippery stuff' in the shell and then save them till you have enough to put in the oven. Do not 'clump' them together until you make sure they have dried out after the rinsing. My 2 dogs get an egg practically every morning with their breakfast---I'm sorry but it bothers me that it would take so much time to tell you what all I do know (and I am a one-fingered typer to boot!) I am still learning new things. Just do a lot of research--take notes---buy a good book or 2 on the subject! As far as eggs go--I always feed the yolk raw, and the whites sometimes if I am feeding oatmeal or malt-o-meal for their breakfast meal-I will stir in the whites when the oatmeal is still hot after cooking until the white turns white (not clear) but otherwise they will get the white raw too--esp. if I am feeding salmon/mackerel with maybe a bit of cottage cheese and maybe some cooked mashed winter squash or pumpkin and the egg. This is one of the breakfasts that I feed. I garden because of my dogs so they get a lot of fresh crushed/pulverized vegetables. I have given a lot of my 'ways' with feeding raw (and home-cooking) in my posts in this forum. I know there are a lot of posts that I have done but if you would skim through some of them you would maybe find some info that I just can't repeat here, sorry. It truly bothers me that I just can't do it! Hey! Keep scrolling down--More to read here!

cheers.

I hope you are not using the rice as a 'filler-upper'--I made that -I consider a mistake. Dogs need some carbohydrates but they need more meat/protein and for the carbs I prefer to give veggies. Try to stay away from grains as much as you can--and never give corn in any form including trying to stay away from cornmeal (a home made treat ingredient a lot of the time.) You might want to put home-made dog treat recipes or something on that order in the search box in this forum also--Lot of info there besides the recipes!
Another thing--More expensive but I consider worth it (not that much more--I pay about $1.72 or so for 1 carton. --I buy eggs from Walmart that have 350mg Omega-3 in each egg (and 300mcg of Lutein). The carton is lt. yellow and the name is All Natural Omega-3 on top of the carton --also the words Great Day Naturals in a blue/violet color circle. And you should see how much richer oranger color than the cheap pale yellow color of the yolks of the cheap eggs. I would image not only the egg is much healthier but if using the egg shell--this is prob. healthier too!

Dogs need some fats too but try not to give turkey skin or fat--worst dense fat there is! Please check out the ratios of meat/protein, carbs and fats!! I wouldn't feed raw pork!! And no raw fish!!!!--Esp. salmon!!
If you have any particular question(s), feel free to ask but I can't do a big long answer although I'd like too!

Another suggestion--Put vinegar in the search box in here and find the thread I did on vinegar: What About Vinegar!

A good site on a lot of things but this page I am referring you to --tells how to do the egg shells---Says 300 degrees for the oven but doesn't say how long--I would only leave them in oven for 10-15 min! The site:? Part 1 ? Scene 9 - Calcium ? natural homemade dog and cat food

[HFader09]

dogs cannot digest milk as their bodies do not make the proper enzymes after puppyhood so I would say loose the milk because it will only give them diarrhea. You have to be careful with rice as well. Good quality kibble (royal canin, medi-cal, hills, blue buffalo) are not bad for dogs and it is not "shameful" to feed your dog kibble. These foods have been carefully researched and proven to give dogs proper nutrition for their lifesytle/stage.
The reason the dogs didn't eat the kibble you provided was because they had real meat and who wouldn't want more of that? A good quality kibble will be very palatable and the dogs will like it because it has a proper fat content which is what makes a food smell good. For dogs, if it smells good it tastes good. The kibbles you have tried for your dogs I imagine are not of good quality hence your dogs did not want them. As well if you have fed your dogs raw their whole life why would they want a kibble if they can have amazingly delicious real meat right?

[Corky/Max]

Good quality kibble (royal canin, medi-cal, hills, blue buffalo) are not bad for dogs and it is not "shameful" to feed your dog kibble. These foods have been carefully researched and proven to give dogs proper nutrition for their lifesytle/stage.--quote

I don't believe Hills is a very good dog food!! What are you referring to as far as 'carefully researched?' I am not convinced on some of the others either---All commercial dog foods have had the nutrients 'cooked out ' of them by the high heat processing ---to say the least! And you can not believe what the individual dog food company is telling you either---They will tell you anything to get you to buy!! They are not 'in it' for the dog----but for the almighty dollar profits! Main word here is GREED! And to he** with your dog!)

[emumbert1]

Originally Posted by patricky

I did some research about feeding your dogs real food. It seemed to me that they thought that raw was the best.

I don't really know. We used to cook our dogs meat, but then I read all about raw meat.

We will just do what's best for our dogs, cooked or uncooked.

It's a shame vets advise kibble, even if just for the fact that dogs don't like it.
They would rather rice.

I'm not an expert by any stretch of the imagination. I've always fed a good dry dog food, with anti allergy formula. Mine love lamb and rice and venison and rice. I would ask your vet about the milk, though. I have some reservations about milk, as it is considered to cause constipation.

Keep the good stuff flowing!

[Pet food store owner]

Dogs do not do lactose very well, that is why people use cottage cheese or plain yogurt instead. To the question of good dry food, there is some out there. Look to foods like Innova Evo, Orijen, California Natural who have proven that their foods are worth what you are paying.

[Lara's mom]

I home cook for my dogs and I always add a small amount of either basmati rice, orzo or quinoa to their food. Grains are not a problem unless your dog has an allergy or you are adding a lot of grains to "extend" the food. The one thing you should not add is corn. Despite it being a prevalent ingredient in many commercial foods, dogs can't digest it. It is a completely useless filler.

[Corky/Max]

Was just searching my long list of favorites and came across this site I had forgot I saved. It is a very good site on Supplements for your dog. Supplement Directory | Supplements For Your Dog