Bruce Goes Raw

Bruce Goes Raw

There is a big debate about feeding dogs raw.  Some say dogs will get sick because of bacteria from raw meat while others insist dogs are designed to eat this way.  There is a plethora of resources available to anyone who is interested in exploring this method of feeding.  I've done my research on commercial pet food and after doing so, decided to put my dog (and past dogs) on a higher quality (more expensive) commercial food.  But still, I just wasn't satisfied that my dog was getting the right nutrients.  Or maybe he was getting enough to live and still enjoy life, but I wanted him to have a natural diet with more options and varieties to keep him interested and happy with his own food.

I've spoken to dog owners who feed their dogs raw and am amazed at the changes it has made in their dog's life.  Everything from allergies to energy level has been affected.  After reading books authored by both dog owners and veterinarians, I've learned that a raw diet is not only safe but is highly applauded.  Of course, some dogs cannot handle a raw diet, so their owners keep them on home-cooked, which is still way better than commercial dog food.  I'd even considered putting Bruce on a home-cooked diet instead of raw just because raw seemed so intimidating.  But alas, after years of debating whether or not to put Bruce on a raw diet, I've decided to make the switch. 

Here is a simple break-down of how to go raw.  I've just started, so I'm only knowledgeable on what works for my dog.  I'll make sure to provide links to resources at the bottom so you can get more detailed information!

What Goes Into A Raw Diet?
Meat
(muscle and organ, but way more muscle than organ)

• Use variety!  Chicken, beef, lamb, turkey.  I'm staying away from pork because it seems that this meat is harder for dogs to digest, though some people have managed to make this work. 
• The purer the meat, the better.  Organic or chemical-free meat is the best because you don't have to worry about drugs or hormones will be consumed by your dog.
• Do not use spoiled meat!  Use meat that you would eat. 
• Once the dog is done eating, take the bowl away.  Do not allow the meat to sit and the dog to come back to it later. 

Raw Meaty Bones

• Knuckle bones, chicken/turkey necks and backs, wings, drumsticks, etc.  These are excellent and needed for calcium!  They also are great for dental health. 

**Don't ever give cooked or frozen bones!**

Eggs and Dairy

• Raw eggs.  Use hormone-free, drug-free, free-range eggs.  Although many people fear salmonella poisoning, this isn't commonly found to be a problem with dogs.  If your dog normally has problems with digestion, cooking the egg will be just fine.
• Cottage cheese and plain yogurt are wonderful sources of protein.

Pastas and Rice
Yes, pastas and brown rice is great for your dog.  Get wise on how much to give and you can have a wonderful variety for your dog!

Veggies, Legumes, Herbs, and Beans
These are important as there are many vitamins that are offered by them.  Some may need to be cooked while some can be fed raw.  Always be aware of veggies and herbs that are poisonous for your dog. 

Extras
Supplements, egg shells, etc.  These are needed to provide anything that the diet doesn't contain.  Some raw feeders don't utilize supplements because the diet they offer is well-balanced.  Use your own judgment.  Do some research on how much to give your dog so you don't overdose! 

How Do You Put Them Together?

• More meat, 1/4-1/2 veggies, and just a teeny bit of herbs.  For Bruce, I use 1 cup of meat, 1/4 cup of veggies, a few dashes of herbs, a raw egg, and a tablespoon of cottage cheese!  Then I give him a dessert-- chicken wings or necks.
• I use a food processor (cheap on at Walmart for $10) to chop up the food, then I mix them all together and make a big glop of everything.  It looks disgusting. 
• Serve the food at room temperature for a smoother digestion.  Cold food upsets tummies.  You can add a little warm water or even put the food in a Ziploc bag and heat it up a little in some warm-hot water.  Don't get it too hot, though.  You want the food to stay live with vitamins and nutrients!

Can I Store Them?
Yes!  It'll be best to keep the next two days' supply in the fridge and freeze everything else.  You should freeze each meal separately so you don't waste any.  Once thawed, you can't refreeze.

Hopefully this doesn't seem as intimidating to you as it did to me.  It isn't as crazy as I thought it would be.  And don't worry about getting every nutrient and vitamin in one meal every time.  As long as the diet balances out over the course of a week, you'll be fine. 

I'll be posting progress updates on Bruce! 

A Few Online Sources
The Dog Guide
Raw Feeding FAQ
Raw Food Diet For Dogs

Suggested Reading-- I found the books to be best for me

Natural Nutrition for Dogs and Cats - The Ultimate Diet
by Kymythy R. Schultze, CCN, AHI

Dr. Pitcairn's Complete Guide To Natural Health For Dogs & Cats
by Richard H. Pitcairn, DVM, PhD and Susan Hubble Pitcairn

Dogs On The Web

Papa Dog

Papa Dog's story is beautiful and enlightening.  Saved from death on the streets, he was brought into a warm home. 

Then one day while I was roaming in traffic, I became very weak and had to lay down in the middle of the road, where I almost got run over. All of a sudden, an angel appeared and she helped get me out of the road. She didn't want me to get hurt, or something far worse. My angels name is Kayla, aka mommy.

Papa's saviors opened their hearts and their home to him, wanting to never let him hurt again.

She knew something was wrong ...

Papa Dog is in need of your help!  Due to his rough life, he was left with many medical issues.  His new family is faced with the financial challenge of getting him better.  They are so close to reaching their goal!

We are just a little over $100 to our goal to get Papa his injections. I am so thankful!! What a relief to know that Papa is going to soon be heart worm free. Thank you so very much.

Last week was a rough one.... 

Please go to his site and donate-- they don't need much more, but the quicker you can help the better! 

 

Click here to help!

 

 

Talkin' About Walkin'

The weather has been beautiful the past few weeks.  The family and I have been taking advantage of it by going for nice long walks!  Because we live in an apartment (a teeny one), we make it a point to stretch Bruce's legs as much as we can.  And walks (or runs) do just that.

 

I just love going for walks because it's peaceful, the dog absolutely digs it, and I get a chance to see some nature!  The kids can poke holes in the ground with sticks and do boy things like scream and run.  Plus, I get to take some pretty awesome pictures!

 

When you're strapped for space, get that leash and grab your camera.  Put nature in your life!

 

 

Cute Bruce Moment

I was trying to do my homework the other night.

Sitting at my desk.

School book on my lap.

Bruce quietly comes over.

He puts his big head on my book.

And stares at me with large brown eyes that say

"Hi."

I was trying to do my homework the other night.

But I rubbed ears instead.

And I massaged a giant puppy.

And I kissed a nose.

And he was happy.

 

 

Thanks for reading today's post!

I write not for myself but for Bruce and others like him

who sit behind bars waiting for a home.

 

If you'd like to offer input or feedback come check us out on Facebook!

Like the page and post a comment.

Post your doggie pics and stories!

A Goal To Pursue

Bruce was an owner surrender who lived 3 years tied up outside.  He was dog aggressive, 20 lbs underweight and suffering from hip and elbow dysplasia.  He ate sometimes and was petted when he was remembered.  We don't want this to happen to other innocent dogs.
 
Bruce and I are committed to saving dogs who suffer at the hands of cruel and/or uneducated humans.  We are currently researching a good way to change or improve our state's laws (Colorado) and hope to help you do the same.  In the meantime, we will be posting notes here and/or on our Facebook that can be helpful to our cause.
 

This is a list of resources that can help you save our dogs from chaining, abuse, neglect, etc.
 

• A printable flyer to pass around or even just share online:  http://www.unchainyourdog.org/documents/Info_For_Owners.pdf
• ASPCA:  http://www.aspca.org/
• Humane Society of the United States:  http://www.humanesociety.org/

 

A note from www.dogsdeservebetter.org :

 
Heather Carpenter, former Orlando Florida Dogs Deserve Better rep, compiled a basic 'to-do' list for changing laws:
 
1) SELECT AN ISSUE. Like chaining of dogs!!
 
2) EDUCATE YOURSELF ON THE ISSUE. You should be well informed on the issues surrounding your cause, and not just from a cruelty aspect. Government officials are concerned about public safety, public health, and of course animal welfare.
 
3) RESEARCH YOUR COUNTY'S CURRENT LAWS. They may have some aspect of a tethering ordinance in place. If not, they may have an ordinance regarding the confinement of animals. Tethering could be added onto this already existing ordinance. Remember that http://www.municode.com is a good resource to look up your county's ordinances, if they're on-line. Its really easy to use. If your county does not have on-line codes, go to your local library or clerk of court for a copy of the local ordinances.
 
4) FIND A MODEL ORDINANCE. See our Model Laws page for the best laws to model yours on. The Helping Animals website, as well as Unchainyourdog.org, have the ordinances from other counties listed. Your commissioners want to see what's going on in other communities and probably write their ordinances based on one already existing. The original six communities all enforce the law, as well.5) FIND ALLIES. Your local humane society or even your local animal control could be helpful. Also any animal rights or welfare groups, wildlife or environmental groups may be supportive. Dog obedience trainers or vets may be supportive.
 
6) KNOW YOUR OPPOSITION. Its important to think about the type of people or groups that may oppose your ordinance. Know their arguments and be ready to counter. These might be hunters or low end breeders, or if you live in Alaska or the cold climates, sled dog groups. These people have large packs of dogs and frequently keep them chained. They are a working animal to them, not a companion.
 
7) INTRODUCE YOUR ORDINANCE. Find the local commissioner who has either supported animal friendly laws or introduced animal friendly laws previously. You can also go to YOUR local commissioner. If your's is not interested, go to the next one. Find someone to "sponsor" your ordinance. 8) LOBBYING. Once you have a sponsor and bill number, lobby the other commissioners. Provide informational packets to all of them. Mobilize your group of supporters to contact their commissioners about the ordinance. You can also get national organizations to write letters for you.
 
9) PUBLIC HEARING. Once the ordinance is introduced, a public hearing is frequently held. Arrange for speakers on your behalf from different areas, such as animal control, cruelty investigators, dog bite victims, or a dog trainer or animal behaviorist. If there is not a public hearing, just a vote, get as many people as possible to speak.
 
10) THE VOTE. When you know the commissioners are going to be voting, get as many phone calls, faxes, letters, emails to go to them as possible. Make sure they know the majority of the public wants this. Enacting legislation takes a long time, maybe even years, but its worth it. Even if you lose, the public will be better educated and you can try again.

Help! My dog would rather poop in his cage!

Kyle is in need of your advice! He and his family just took in a rescue and are facing nasty potty training problems. Can you help?

I have a problem. The chihuahua we rescued is very hard to get to go to the bathroom outside. He is six months old and has always used the bathroom outside but now he thinks that when he goes in his crate at night it is time to use the bathroom inside of it.

I take him out right before we go to bed and right when I get up in the morning. Usually in bed by 12 up by 6.

I have tried a large crate with him a medium crate with him and finally last night the small crate thinking that his natural instinct of not using the bathroom where he sleeps would kick in and man was I wrong he made a bigger mess in the small crate than in the the other ones and lord did I have to give him a bath and clean like crazy on everything around his crate.

I refuse to get rid of him especially since my kids all have fell in love with him and my other dog cooper get along so good and the funny thing is my daughters cat and him even play. I have even lined the crates with nice soft blankets and left them bare to see if that helps and learned with him not to put a blanket in the crate unless you want it shredded lol.

Any ideas or thoughts or ways that worked for anyone else would be great I am willing to try anything at this point.

Please be respectful in your comments. Also, this is a family friendly site, so please no profanity. Thanks in advance!