poop

I always want to write about poop but somehow stop myself because it's a taboo topic.  Maybe one day I will be brave enough to even photograph the calcified poop and compare it to a kibble-based poop so you can see the difference for yourself.

In the meantime, I will post a comment my friend Treena made when one of the raw-fed dogs pooped in her yard the other day, "Dude, your dog's crap doesn't smell.  I mean, I have it in this bag a foot from my head and I don't smell anything.  I didn't even smell it when I picked it up.  Is that because of the meat?"

Yes, why yes it is in fact.  And the bone too!

teeth

If you ever had to put your little dog through anastesia to do dental surgery and have 13 of their major teeth removed due to decay and gum disease because you beleived all the garbage about the benefits of feeding a unhealthy diet of kibbl...e to them for most of their 10 year life, then one day wake up and realize the benefits of raw feeding, but now it was too late to be able to feed raw because all the teeth they needed to chew the bones were gone, you would feel as bad as I did, and be just as angry at yourself, and the manufacturers:(

overheard on one of my raw club message boards

It gets worse. You will go to shows and peg the raw fed dogs a mile away. I adore my client dogs but I have to admit I get grossed out by their cruddy teeth, funky breath, and greasy, stinky, or frizzy coats. And kibble dogs are so mushy and flabby underneath. No muscle at all, even the ones who get a lot of exercise. Even my 11 year is more tight and toned, with a velvety plush coat and pliable skin over a hard body. Raw fed dogs have especially developed necks. The muscles right behind the ears are like rocks on mine.

Sometimes I want to take them home for a month or 2 and return them so changed from raw that their owners don't recognize them.9 minutes ago ·

Written by a dog groomer who feeds raw diet to her dogs

The Basics

The diet should be comprised of:

• meat
• bone
• some organ meat
• vegetable matter
• supplements
• (optional) cultured dairy, eggs
• (occasional, optional) manufactured treats

It does not need to be complicated, expensive, messy, or inconvenient.  Bottom line, it is the closest to species-appropriate diet as one can get.

There are ground products available to thaw and serve, or you can do some self-education and find easy, inexpensive ways to ensure your dog is getting maximum nutrition, enjoyment, and variety.  Either way, you can do much better than anything you will find in a (typical) vet's office or pet food aisle.