Raw Feeding Again: and I'm not sorry!

[Cob-Web]

Since we changed to three chicken wings for dinner he has been better, but I am giving about 190g food per meal, roughly 170g meat and 20g veg.

Does that include bone weight? I aim to give Molo approx 200g of meat per day - so if he has a mince meal then it is 100g of meat plus veg for a meal, if he has meat "on the bone" (rabbit or chicken wings) then I increase the weight to account for the bones 

Just to add to the confusion - I've always been aware that as tinned sardines are cooked, then they aren't technically BARF 

[Annette]

Since we changed to three chicken wings for dinner he has been better, but I am giving about 190g food per meal, roughly 170g meat and 20g veg.

Does that include bone weight? I aim to give Molo approx 200g of meat per day - so if he has a mince meal then it is 100g of meat plus veg for a meal, if he has meat "on the bone" (rabbit or chicken wings) then I increase the weight to account for the bones 

Just to add to the confusion - I've always been aware that as tinned sardines are cooked, then they aren't technically BARF 

I had figured that out too, but am willing to give them, as everyone else seems to.

I'm not weighing the wings, just giving three now. So the 170g would be meat or Natures Menu (with minced bone in).

[Rhona W]

OK. Really going to throw a spanner in the works now!  
According to "The BARF Diet" by Dr. Ian Billinghurst an adult dog weighing between 10 and 25kg should have 600 - 1100gms a day. So if 60% should be meat and bones, then they should have between 360 and 660gms a day. Which would then be equal to about 180 - 330gms per meal.  

[Cob-Web]

OK. Really going to throw a spanner in the works now! 
According to "The BARF Diet" by Dr. Ian Billinghurst an adult dog weighing between 10 and 25kg should have 600 - 1100gms a day. So if 60% should be meat and bones, then they should have between 360 and 660gms a day. Which would then be equal to about 180 - 330gms per meal. 

Molo would be a barrel on that amount!!

I know dogs are all different and its only a guide, but that is a huge different from the guidance on The UK BARF Club website 

What % of bone and veg is there in Natures Menu?

[sarahp]

right for what its worth I think you are all being waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too anal about this  

Your  dogs stomach is roughly the size of your fist, so feed about that amount per meal.  If your dog starts to put on weight - feed less.  If your dog starts to get a bit skinny - feed more.  

simple    

Yes you need to be sensible about getting the balance right - but you really dont need to lose so much sleep over it.  Bet you dont worry about your own diets so much  

[Annette]

right for what its worth I think you are all being waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too anal about this  

Your  dogs stomach is roughly the size of your fist, so feed about that amount per meal.  If your dog starts to put on weight - feed less.  If your dog starts to get a bit skinny - feed more.  

simple    

Yes you need to be sensible about getting the balance right - but you really dont need to lose so much sleep over it.  Bet you dont worry about your own diets so much  

Thanks!

Was beginning to suspect this!

Still, what I most worry about is putting up with Buddy when he's hungry. He really is unbearable. But nor do I want to reward his pestering by giving more food when he asks for it after his meal times!



Steve says to ask.......what size is your fist....exactly?

[Rhona W]

Steve says to ask.......what size is your fist....exactly?

And is that my fist or OH's? His hands are much bigger than mine! 

[Cob-Web]

Its easy to get paranoid though - I am acutely aware that any mistakes I make now with the balance of his diet may not be evident until he gets older and maybe developed conditions due to long term poor nutrional balance 

(This is one of the reasons I still feed a good quality complete food occasionally - hopefully, he will absorb any missing nutrients from this  )

[sarahp]

Still, what I most worry about is putting up with Buddy when he's hungry. He really is unbearable. But nor do I want to reward his pestering by giving more food when he asks for it after his meal times!

Give him a raw carrot if he pesters - if he's hungry he'll it, if he's not he wont  

Steve says to ask.......what size is your fist....exactly?

Well I reckon closed tightly its about 7.4 cm wide, but not so tightly closed its about 7.9 or could be 8.1 cm's ...........................................................................




 

[Annette]

Still, what I most worry about is putting up with Buddy when he's hungry. He really is unbearable. But nor do I want to reward his pestering by giving more food when he asks for it after his meal times!

Give him a raw carrot if he pesters - if he's hungry he'll it, if he's not he wont  

Steve says to ask.......what size is your fist....exactly?

Well I reckon closed tightly its about 7.4 cm wide, but not so tightly closed its about 7.9 or could be 8.1 cm's ...........................................................................




 

So how many sardines do you think that would be then?

[Rhona W]

What % of bone and veg is there in Natures Menu?

It doesn't tell you that on the packet. 
It breaks it down into: protein 11.4%; oil 13.1%; ash 2.4%; fibre 0.3% and they 'retain up to 5% of bone'.

[Penel]

right for what its worth I think you are all being waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too anal about this  

blimey me too take a chill pill folks (but make sure you weigh it first  )

erm that kneecap would last my dogs about half an hour 

[Densil]

Dibbley says he's trying his best.  (been at it now since T-time) He smells like a butchers shop and keeps coming back in the house and rubbing his chin along the floor.  (you know, like when they find a dead seagul)

He says "never mind the fist size thing....that bone was as big as my head"   

[DennyK]

Really bad news at the moment, guys.

Since Thursday last week, I've started to see signs of the colitis coming back.  Started with Paddy's eyes beginning to weep eye gunk again throughout the day.  During Saturday, his poos went softer and shinier.  During Sunday - really soft.  He also got really growly with the pet sitter yesterday when she picked him up - I think she surprised him and gripped him round the waist which seems to be tender....

I'm persevering as he still looks loads better on BARF than on any other food he's eaten.  I also want to see what happens when he has chance to settle down into his usual routine again.  Last week, his pet sitter was on holiday so my mum kindly came over to our house to stay for the week.  She spoils him rotten - including loads of JWB "Mini Jack" treats - and he got noticeably fatter.  My sister and her two Paddy-obsessed boys (aged 6 and 10) were also there and mithering the bejasus out of Paddy on Saturday and Sunday, whenever my back was turned.  So all in all, I can see that, since he's definitely a dog who doesn't cope well with stress, it's been a really "out of kilter" week.

I have an appointment at the vets for Saturday, because his muzzle is covered in histiocytoma, and I'm going to get the referral to the homeopathic vet sorted out then, unless Pads has come on in leaps and bounds by then on the tum front....

Between now and the vet on Saturday, does anyone have any suggestions?  I'm still giving the Slippery Elm (Dorwest's "Tree Barks") each day.  Should I add Aloe Vera juice too?  Any foods to avoid?  Scale up or scale back on blended veg?

Oh, boo hoo.  I was so upset at the weekend: by Sunday evening when Paddy and I were alone (OH is in the US, back today), we both just curled up together - I let him sleep with me, and he just didn't stir for eight hours till the alarm went off...My poor little boy.  If I could wave a magic wand and take on the colitis myself and cure him, I'd honestly do it....

Denise

[Annette]

Oh Denise, I'm so sorry to hear about poor Paddy.

Hopefully it is all the extra treats and stress which has made it all so much worse again. I do hope that he soon settles.

Poor lad with the hystiocytome too.

((HUGS)) (and apologies for all of us hijacking your thread.)