curious about RAW diet

I'm tempted to try Axl on a RAW diet but I do admit I'm so scared of getting the proportions wrong between meat, bone and offal I'm really bad at maths I think I understand and I've read the link Ella provided in a different thread but I'm still not sure I will get it right and that worries me a bit.

Axl is 24 kilos (but not fat you can still see his ribs at the back, his waist is visible but he seems to be very broad at the chest and shoulders), from what I've read I need to feed him around 2% of his body weight, is that split into two meals? Also, if I understand it correctly, I fast him for a day then switch him to RAW, does that sound right?

Also, can someone tell me the benefits of a RAW diet, I read in one of the other posts someone asked how the dog was doing on RAW and whether they noticed the difference yet, does it change them a lot?

Also, to start with is a chicken breast and maybe some liver okay? How can I stop him choking on bones, that's one of my biggest fears...

Sorry if I sound clueless and for all the questions!

Hey deb I've just switched Darcy over to raw 3 weeks ago so I'm only a novice I was like you and kept putting it off because I was worried about ratios! 2%of 24kg is 480grams  so you can split it into 2 meals I do for Darcy.
I started her on chicken breast, mince, wings & thighs for a week then added something different each week, not to worry about offal for the first few weeks. Darcy crunches the bones all up hope this helps I'm sure one of our pros will be along shortly

Thanks Hayley that's really helpful I think I'm going to take the leap, I've read Darcy's diary its nice to see what is happening week to week so I know what to expect!

Sorry just one more question - where do you get your raw food from, should I just buy it from the local supermarket or is it better to get it from a supplier online?

I buy a little from the supermarket but have found a local butcher who does dog packs carcass's wings, thighs, so maybe ask around, also online, I've just ordered something's from Durham animal foods. (DAF) also have a look at sazzles raw posts her daisy is on week 4

Brilliant, thanks for the info Hayley I'm going to have a nose at Sazzle's raw posts as well then!

Heres the raw supplier list:
https://staffy-bull-terrier.niceboard.com/t19502-raw-food-supplier-list

Best advice i can give you, DON'T over complicate it, the amounts do not need to be exact or the same every day just a rough amount, and just watch your dogs body condition.

Also the ratios do not need to be exact either - I feed once a day and just give some sort of meat with bone, whether thats a whole rabbit or half a chicken etc. Then once a week or fortnight they get a good bowl of offal and that's it!

Thanks Ella, I will have a look at the list.

One other question (sorry!), my boyfriend is really worried that all the protein may alter Axl's personality as he's read that it can make dogs aggressive, I said I would ask on here to see if there's any truth in it, do you know?

Thanks again!

haha tell him there is usually less protein in meat then most high quality kibble

Tell him most of meat is water, it is NOT high in protein!

I told him and he's agreed to try axl on it yay! I'm quite nervous about how his stomach will be for the first week I hope he can cope with it but I am determined to do it as I think in the long run it will be so much better for him

One last question is it okay to swap him over straight away or do we need to not feed him for a day before starting the raw diet? I read that somewhere

Awesome

What i do/did is fast for the rest of the day that they come home with us, and start raw the next day/morning.

Also PLEASE remember to take it slowly, don't feed lots of different foods straight away. Start with chicken only for the first week, and once his belly seems settled and his stools are good then add one other meat in, and continue this pattern!

Will do, thanks Ella I appreciate your advice I will keep you all updated

have fun!

Yay that's great news deb

I thought Hugo was red meat intolerant till I fed raw, beef is a no no but  the rest he is fab with and other than his health, the small poopies are a HUGE bonus!!

Hey Debs, looks like everything has been covered above!! I'm in week 5 and its going really well. I've mostly been feeding the minced carcass and tripe but am trying to add some bones in as well!! Its taking Daisy a little longer to get used to them! Good luck, keep us posted  

Hopefully his skin will improve on a raw diet and also it might solve the anal gland problem, firmer poo and all that lol

I will keep you all posted, going to start it Sunday morning so fingers crossed it goes well

My dogs have been on raw for about 4 years now and I would never go back to feeding a dry food.

I'd always advise starting as you mean to go on...with meaty bones rather than the mince. You have much more control over the proportions, plus you have the advantages of teeth cleaning & jaw exercise!

Hello Barf Gurus
Cuurently my 8 week pup the following

1. 1/4 cup of Wellness 5 packs puppy- Brekkie
2. 100 gms of Kangaroo/chix mince
3. a neck of chicken and a bit of mince again

Would that be ok. Just started this morning?

Or do I have to swap the kibble from Morning to dinner meal as the kibble digest longer..

Hope to hear soon..

Personally I'd just lose the kibble and feed raw, avoids any problems with stomach upsets because of the different digestion times  

Thats what I did this morning. Thanks

 Hope it continues to go well x

all fingers cross atm.