Anyone stopped raw feeding?

[Frazzeled123]

We've got a 10 month old lab who struggled to gain weight, and we moved to raw after being recommended. He's done week with it - however I'm finding it quite a stress! To expensive to buy complete - I've not got enough time to DIY. Anyone successfully moved away from raw feeding? Anyone have experience of combining dry/raw?

[picklemepopcorn]

Have you tried prey model raw? It's really easy- easier than anything else. I just give my dog pieces of raw meat. There is a ratio of what to give when, but honestly it couldn't be easier.

[picklemepopcorn]

My dog eats a lot of chicken, beef mince and pork shoulder. Then some organ meat which I give as dried treats.

[missbattenburg]

I moved away. Battendog was brought up on raw until he was about a year or so old. I would often included a wet/dry meal every now and again so that he was fine with being on cooked food when we went away and I didn't want to have to worry about keeping raw with us.

Over time I thought I saw a preference (in him) for cooked food and as I wasn't totally committed to raw being the only/best option I moved him over.

I cannot say I have seen any difference in him for the change. His behaviour, obedience, energy, condition etc all remains the same.

[picklemepopcorn]

Pickledog has always been raw, so I can only say he's as fit as a butcher's dog! He may well have been anyway, but when we first got him he had constant diarrhoea which raw fixed.

[contrary13]

My parents GSD was like your Lab, OP - he's 3 now and no longer fed on the raw meat diet... but like the above poster, my parents just fed him raw mince and chicken pieces, along with kibble and/or rice. A couple months ago, they stopped the raw food, and started cooking the mince/chicken pieces - I forget why, precisely, but it was on vet advice. Their dog is still skinny, but thriving (although he won't eat if he's distracted, unless one of us pretends to "eat" his food, at which point he'll start eating it).

[MattMagnolia]

My last two dogs were fed raw but not from puppyhood. When we got this puppy we were told not to give him raw meat because of hygiene and possible infections.
Commercial dog food is all balanced and is so much easier to get right so we have carried on with it. I wouldn’t go back to the mess and disgust of handling raw meat.

[feliciabirthgiver]

Have a look at Natures Harvest, we buy it on subscription from Monster Pets and is super convenient and no more expensive than the dried kibble our lab was on before.

[GrumpyMiddleAgedWoman]

A lot of dogs can be very ribby until they hit maturity (for breeds like labs this can be 18months/ 2 years). As long as he is healthy, active and has plenty of muscle, I wouldn't worry about him being skinny just yet.

[Skandinaviem]

The current World Small Animal Veterinary Association has formulated guidelines that do not recommend raw feeding (the feeding of any uncooked/unpasteurised meat/animal products) to other animals- particularly those of companion animal species. Currently there is a TB outbreak amongst cats fed a raw food diet, and some of those cats affected have been reported to have transferred TB to their owners. I’m speaking as a vet with over 25 years experience in the field and I would not recommend raw feeding as, with many things, when it goes right it’s fine but the risks to animal and human health when it goes wrong, and it does frequently, are catastrophic. Many owners feel very emotive on the subject of what works for them, and your pet is your responsibility and how you feed him or her is up to you, but I would strongly discourage feeding raw food.

[Skandinaviem]

www.wsava.org/WSAVA/media/PDF_old/WSAVA-GNC-raw-diet-statement-12-3-14.pdf

[Morningcoffeelover]

I have done it all. Raw is good but you have to be very organized. If you go away you have to be super organized. I now feed Skinner's salmon and rice with the Butchers tripe loaf in a can. She loves it. And is doing well on it. Don't stress yourself.

[Frazzeled123]

Thank you all! I've actually got him
On the skinners one morningcoffeelover recommended!

Very interesting about the TB. Raw feeding seems to be a bit like discussing Gina Ford routines amongst new mums (lots of very emotional responses and hardened views as to what's right/wrong!). Appreciate some rational responses.