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RAW DIETS (Part 2)
Dogs and cats can end up choking on bones and injure the stomach and small intestines. While these events are rare, they are still possible. Most dogs and cats know what to do with chicken and other meats containing bones. However, some dogs and cats manage to eat raw bones and choke on them, usually by eating them too quickly. Lets face it, some dogs are gluttons. They will attempt to swallow the bones whole, without chewing. To circumvent this problem, the owner may first elect to chop up the bones into small pieces. Likewise, numerous commercial, raw diets are now available that contain the bones in chopped up form. The basic rule of thumb is to feed a large turkey neck when introducing whole raw food to your dog. When cats are fed raw meat with bones, the food should always be chopped up into very small pieces, one-quarter inch or smaller. Never feed cats whole chicken necks. Never, ever cook the bones. Cooking bone changes the chemical composition and bones will then splinter and cut the stomach and intestines. If your pet is sick or debilitated, we advise you to have Dr. Katz examine your pet before you embark on feeding it a raw diet. In actuality, feeding raw diets is one if the best ways to rebuild your pets health. Contrary to popular opinion, cats suffering from feline leukemia virus and feline immunodeficiency virus, and dogs with many conditions such as food allergies and improve markedly while on raw food diets.
CONVERTING DOGS TO RAW DIETS
Most dogs need no transition period. Simply introduce the meal at hand and allow them to eat! If the dog has a history of a sensitive stomach, then gradual conversion might be in order. Begin with a small portion of the diet. If feeding actual chicken with bones, chop up a small portion containing both meat and bones (50/50) and feed it.
If using a commercial diet, simply offer a small portion of the defrosted diet. Then, if your dog shows no reaction, (diarrhea, vomiting), continue to introduce a higher volume each day until you have reached the intended amount. Some dogs will never be able to change in diet, even from one brand of commercial dog food to another. Other dogs might show an initial aversion to raw foods. You might have to make them hungry first. Then, lightly braze the food in a frying pan (no or little oil, then heat) to stimulate their appetites by making the food smell a bit more like table foods. Always feed the raw meat meal separately from the dry or canned food meal.
CONVERTING CATS TO RAW DIETS
By 6-12 months of age, cats become fixated on whatever foods they have eaten to date. This means that if a cat has been eating only dry food, it tends to continue to eat only dry food. If a cat has been eating only canned fish varieties of cat food, it will continue to eat only canned fish varieties of cat food. In other words, adult cats that have not been introduced to raw foods as kittens might present a challenge!
The easiest way to circumvent this problem is to introduce your cat to raw foods when it is a kitten. Most kittens will eat any food placed in front of them, as they still maintain their instinct for raw foods. This is the time to begin feeding chopped up chicken wings, chicken backs and thighs are both the cheapest and easiest to feed. Or, try feeding one of the commercial foods such as BARF, OMAS, or Instinct.
For adult cats who have never been introduced to raw foods, hiding the raw meat in canned food often is the easiest option. Simply mix a tiny amount of turkey burger or hamburger in with the canned food and don't tell your cat. Then, each day, gradually increase the amount of burger in the diet. Some cats will constantly reject any attempts to add raw foods to their canned foods. In these cases, try feeding Innova EVO or Instinct dry. These grain free diets are the closest thing to raw food. Try mixing a small amount into the canned food. Another trick is to mush some raw chicken liver into the canned foods. It is safe to feed a small amount of raw liver every day to your cat. Often the cat will reject burger meat in its food but, will accept raw chicken liver in its food. Be careful, because raw liver is like cheesecake,(very rich) eat too much of it and it will make your cat nauseated.RAW DIETS FOR DOGS
First of all, keep it simple. If you want to get complicated, surf the web!
There are many commercial diets out there now. We recommend Omas Pride, BARF or Instinct. These are the brands we trust and are consistent in quality.
For larger breeds of dogs, these diets can be fed as one meal a day, or even just a few times a week. They are also available in uncommon meat sources, such as rabbit, venison, buffalo, emu, kangaroo, and others. Most companies use beef, turkey, and chicken and many use organic and/or grass-fed meat sources. These diets tend to contain ground bones, organ meats, and other ingredients like yogurt, beets, vegetables, and many other food items, in addition to the principle meat source(s).
If you are going to prepare raw food on your own, simply make sure you feed from four principle Food groups:
Meat
Bones
Organ meats
Fruits and vegetables
