Does Anyone Feed Raw?

[MonicanHonda]

I'm just asking because it seems to be popular on Dogster...

I wouldn't mind doing this, but Delta can't have organ meats, which is a big part of raw...

And I'm also wondering what you feed your pups. We have both pups on Chicken Soup. But Remy might have an ear infection, and I don't really want all the grain for the pups, so I'm switching Remy back to TOTW and I'm going to switch Delta to TOTW Pacific streams when she's old enough.

I'm just worried about the purine factor. Everywhere I look says salmon has the same purine level as chicken, so I think it should be okay. And it's 25% protein, which is a little high for dalmatians, but I figure if it's low/medium purine, then protein level shouldn't matter too much. All that matters is the purines, not the protein.

Can you tell I'm a bit obsessive. I spend a lot of time looking for a good food. Lol But I think a lot of good foods are really expensive. 40 dollars for a 30/35 lb bag is about as much as I'm giving... (on a budget of sorts... low on money Lol!)

This is all so stressful, sometimes I just want to go back to Nutro... (What the breeder wants us to feed) because all her dals do great on the lamb and rice... ugh.

[luvofallhorses]

On another board I belong to a lot of them feed TOTW Pacific Stream. Also I think it's for all life stages. Not sure on a dalmatian's diet though so I can't help you out there. I know they are prone to allergies though. I would go with whatever you can afford.

I could never feed raw plus it's not cheap. Some people think kibble wares down their teeth and do raw because it keeps their teeth clean
(bones and such). PM Kfamr I believe she may have some experience feeding raw. Not sure if she feeds it now though.

[MonicanHonda]

Yeah, I don't think I have the money to feed raw. But everyone there just obsesses over how bad kibble is. It can make you go insane. Lol I just need to stop. Hahaha. I still am thinking about giving maybe a chicken thigh a couple times a week just to keep teeth clean. It kinda freaks me out though, Lol, I hate raw meat, and I get kinda sick of it after I cook it for myself. LOL

Oh, and it is all life stages, but apparently that still doesn't mean its good for puppies... lol maybe I'll start rotating her now on it so she still gets some puppy stuff from another food. WHO KNOWS! lol

[luvofallhorses]

Where do you get your dog food? Maybe the store can help you out.

[Asiel]

I've been feeding raw for ages and I don't think I could ever go back to kibble. I don't understand why people think it's so expensive, most of the raw meat I get comes from the butchers around here. When hunting is in season I can fill freezers for a year with what I get from the hunters . I do buy chicken on sale but only because I like to vary the meals. I can honestly say that it doesn't cost much more than a few hundred a year to feed 3 dogs raw and only because I buy the chicken and more organ meats.

[MonicanHonda]

I would say it would be more expensive because I don't know of butchers/hunters around me. Oh, and I live in an apartment so I don't have a big freezer. And, the thought of them not getting enough nutrients just scares me. Because I know you give them their nutrients over a week and not a day. So much to learn. Lol

I've been researching homecooked (because dalmatians have the whole purine thing) and basically the diet would consist of mostly rice and some lamb or chicken. But not a lot...

[Seravieve]

We currently feed Blue Buffalo, Chicken and Brown Rice or Sweet Potato and Fish. But man.. All three are having some serious gas problems right now. It just seems to be this bag of food. We've fed BB for 4-5 months now.. so we're not sure whats up with the smellies. Going to be getting them some plain yogurt to add in.. see if that helps.

And the only way we can afford to feed BB is with coupons, coupons, coupons. We've been buying BB coupons on eBay and then stacking them with Petsmart ones and stocking up when its on sale. A little work.. but they get a better food. We save at least 50% with the coupons.

I'm interested in feeding raw.. but I don't think it really would fit our lifestyle or budget right now.