raw feeding - treats?

[TooOldForGlitter]

We are about to start the raw feeding adventure. My order is placed, new freezer is in the shed, its all go! I was just wondering, for those of you that do feed raw, does your dog still get chews/treats, and if so, what?

Oh Fan, that is so funny! I was at vets today with big labrador. In the waiting room was a border terrier, jack Russell and a small Heinz.

Large, very Barky German shepherd arrives. VERY Barky and lungy.

Every little dog barked furiously and lunged towards the 'beast', defending the miserable humans.

Mine, first off tried to climb on myknee, and when that did not work, managed to commando crawl behind my legs. My hero. Blood lust? You have to be joking!

I suppose it is quite common to think this might happen. I guess I can sort of see the logic behind it and in fairness to DM, last time they had a dog I was under ten and it was common practice to open your door and let the dog out for the day!!

I will weigh in with just one more question.

I assume that most people chuck the bones/more gruesome 'meals' outside for pooch. How does this work when it isn't summer?! I imagine mine will be happy to eat his mince/chunks from his regular bowl, but bones etc. a) i know he will want to take them off as prized treats (not on my carpets Bob!) and b) being a mardarse greyhound won't go outside in rain/cold/snow. Help!

Promise i'm starting my own raw thread as soon as we crack on so I can be ignored or joined by other floundering raw newbies

oh and to give an idea, am in matchbox three bed semi. Downstairs is porch/loo, lounge, kitchen diner and french windows leading to back garden so not much space. Will zip it now.

We gave chicken wings as treats.

Also, never bought meat from supermarket, but went to a place that supplied raw good, bones an all minced down.

Was in Rugeley, and delivered. Once switched was much cheaper than other feeds.

Vet was funny, checked our German Shepherd over, told us how healthy he was, then asked what we fed him, when we said a raw diet, he said it would be an unhealthy way to carry on!!

Before I knew not to mix kibble and raw, I did give him a couple of chicken wings in his bowl, but he took them and ran straight into the garden. Come rain and winter, he won't and I don't want raw meat dragged about the house!

I took mine to the vet this morning just to pop him on the scales, so as to be sure I will be feeding him enough for his weight. It is a fairly big practice and two of the vets who have seen him before asked what I was weighing him for. Upon hearing, both remarked I was making a mistake!

And what we're their specific concerns?

Ha, I had exactly the same experience RachaelAgnes, vet said how healthy my dog looked, that he was a great weight and well muscled, astonished at how clean and white his teeth were. Then asked how he was fed. On hearing raw, his answer? 'Oh I don't think that will be very good for him, you would be much better feeding him a balanced, complete kibble'.

'Vets get about half a days training on feeding dogs. The rest of their knowledge comes from pet food reps'
and before anyone flames me, this is what I was told by a vet, I can only believe what she tells me. They also got very nice pressies from a certain dog food manufacturer to stock their product only in the practice.

A lot of vets are sniffy about feeding raw, because they know no more about it than the common or garden dog owner, and find it much easier to advise feeding a good quality kibble - no awkward questions for them to have to answer.

I have high regard for a good vet, so hope this post does not read as anti. BUT they are not experts on dog nutrition.

I am not evangelical about feeding raw. I love it, love how my dog looks on it and appreciate the convenience, but it is not for everyone and if you feel better feeding commercial foods - go for it .
I have brought up 4 dogs already, fed on a mixture of tinned food and dry, as fashions changed throughout the years. None of them dropped dead through being fed like that!

Do what you are comfortable with - I sometimes feel quite sorry for our dogs - can you imagine the diet we would all be on if owned by food zealots?

Totally agree, wasn't knocking my vet in any way, my practice are amazing and do stuff totally above and beyond the call of duty. It was just funny to hear :)

And I agree about the raw thing too, mine are fed raw green tripe and a mixer biscuit (and some other bits and bobs) which I know lots of raw/barf feeders disagree with, but they love it, look great on it, are never ill, have no digestive problems. I only feed this way because my first dogs breeder told me to and said all of their dogs had been fed that way for thirty odd years, before that I was James Wellbeloved all the way (again on the advice of a previous breeder, easily led me ).

They didn't express any specific concerns, both recognised my dog and came over to quickly pet him and ask if he was OK/what I was weighing him for, I explained and both used almost the same words, "oh don't go making that mistake".

It hasn't put me off!

When he is fifteen with gleaming white teeth and is still the perfect weight you can really go to town with them

I think I said before, petforums, dog section, has a fab sticky on raw feeding - well worth a look.

Might be better to feed bones on a mat in the kitchen. If mine takes them in the garden she buries them and then wants more food!

I chuck mine outside with bones. If the weather is really bad I give it in the kitchen and swizz round with a mop after.

My vets weren't exactly keen either but agree with all the points made. They are not diet experts and are not usually impartial when it comes to pushing the glossy 'scientific' kibble. We have been 100% raw for over a year now and no vet could convince me that the health change I have seen is a coincidence.

That's what I expected Glitter but always interested to know whether they can come up with anything specific.

Good luck with it. I've not actually had any adverse comments from my vets so far but I fully expect to at some point.

So, today was Day 1. Chicken mince for brekkie, lovely at 6.30 am and he was scared of it! Same for tea and wolfed down in seconds and here he is enjoying two frozen wings for supper!