I used to feed my doggy poison. :D

[E.urka]

The reason why urinary diet foods left your cat hungry is because they are made with very, very low protein- When a cat has problems with their kidneys and bladders cats should not be fed a high protein diet due to their weakened urinary system and possible stones since it is difficult for their bodies to handle during a time such as a urinary problem.
More protein = Full faster
Less protein = Not full as much
You can mix that dry food into moist cat food to help them feel fuller- But that's the reason in case you were curious.

Oh, i'm also not here to start a fight in case anyone thinks that xP heh

[E.urka]

Please take note that I took all this information from a document I recorded from a senior veterinarian just last week. So you are reading information from someone with 30+ years of knowledge.

Congrats for graduating google academy though, as my professor once said.

[Cardinal]

You say you're not here to start a fight but your wording is mighty aggressive. Many of the people that use this thread DO feed raw and have been feeding raw for a while. Jazi's breeder has been feeding raw for many many years, hardly 'google academy'.

[IAmLink]

You say you're not here to start a fight but your wording is mighty aggressive. Many of the people that use this thread DO feed raw and have been feeding raw for a while. Jazi's breeder has been feeding raw for many many years, hardly 'google academy'.

Agreed. Also I, too, have a very good relationship with my vet who knows about me feeding a raw diet (correctly) and has had nothing negative to say about it. My vet doesn't even recommend Science Diet or Royal Canin because those companies just pay vets to sell/recommend their food.

Vets in general know little about dog nutrition; that would be what a pet nutritionist is for. Vets these days are literally taught by representatives of SD and RC so of course all they are going to say will be the most positive things about their foods. It's much the same as with a human doctor. Sure, your generic doctor knows some about nutrition, but to get exact nutrition you would go to a nutritionist.

I agree that people shouldn't just rush into something as difficult and complex as a raw diet, but I have yet to find a dog that did poorly on a raw diet unless they either a.) had some sort of medical issue/severe intestinal sensitivity, or b.) the owner was ignorant and made stupid mistakes (leaving meat out to get warm and grow bacteria, feeding meat from shady/unknown sources, didn't properly research diet needs, etc.) and then blamed the diet for their own ignorance.

[Jazi]

Please take note that I took all this information from a document I recorded from a senior veterinarian just last week. So you are reading information from someone with 30+ years of knowledge.

Congrats for graduating google academy though.

You're not here to start a fight but you're willing to immediately be insulting?

I'm not going to get into it, not while I'm on my phone anyway, but uh... I'm not getting my information from google? Interesting how I immediately must be some keyboard warrior when I provide a view based off my chosen profession.

Raw is not for everyone, and I'd rather a dog on a high quality kibble (not SD or RC) than unbalanced raw, but there's very little cons for the actual health of the dog if done correctly. The vast majority of vet foods are utter crap, something that my vets agree with me on. It was one of them that urged me to look into raw diets way back when my last GSD could not tolerate any kibbles. And when she learned that my first dobe was switching off vet kibble and onto a partial raw diet, she had a sigh of relief. And approves of me feeding my current pup raw as well as his altered vacc and wormer schedules. Heretical, I know.

My breeder has been feeding raw likely (since you are a new graduate) since before you were born. In her younger days she has worked in the veterinary field and has shown me studies- yes, real scientific evidence- linking kibble diets to various cancers and organ failures. To improper growth and temperament change. To coat and skin conditions and lowered immune response. Hardly google academy.

[fairytale.]

I agree, I would not stand to be spoken like that at a vet practice. First and foremost, you have to realize that the patient's owner is paying for your services, and you have to respect how they care for their animal. Would you tell someone how to raise their child? A balanced raw or home cooked diet is much better than processed foods, in my opinion. For one, there are no fillers, meaning your animals can get the most out of their food. Another thing is that there are no synthetics. Kibbles are full of synthetic vitamins, many of which are not approved for human use. I am sure as heck not feeding my dog something that causes, say, kidney failure in humans. If you source meat properly and handle it correctly, your dog is not going to get parasites or food poisoning. Dogs may be living longer now (although I am not sure I truly believe that), but have you considered that there is more to it than diet? I think pets are becoming much more part of the family, and people are more willing to get medical care for them.
I suggest you take what you are taught with a grain of salt, and also study the other side of the argument before you form an opinion. I think it is unfortunate that many nutrition courses are sponsored by the pet food companies. People should be taught how to analyze and read ingredients and what is really in food. I know I sure as heck wouldn't feed Royal Canin, and I know there are much better foods out there. I do believe many people don't study raw diets correctly, but we shouldn't all be given a bad name for what they have done wrong. Join some facebook groups, ask people for their experiences on a raw diet and some reading about them. You'll be surprised about what you might learn. I'll admit that I was skeptical at first. Dogs are dogs, shouldn't they eat dog food? The more I learned, the more I found out how wrong I was.

[Imzadi83]

It's dangerous, risky and you should not be advocating it to uneducated people without stating the cons in details, which are possible. Big round of applause your dog is great- but lot's aren't. Please post the cons so people can have a real choice instead of jumping on the bandwagon.
That's just like going to the doctor to get a new medication and not being told the cons, just the pros.

There are cons to feeding any dog food. There were dog food recalls because humans (not pets) were sick from salmonella. Most people know how to safely handle raw meat but don't realize the safety steps involving kibble.

Yes, a raw food diet can be dangerous if done improperly. No one here is advocating to do it improperly. People need to research how to do it safely and decide if it's for them. There are many pre-made raw foods on the market that meet AAFCO guidelines and make it easier for people who want to feed their pets raw.

Yes, dogs are living longer today, but I have yet to see any non-correlational evidence that this is solely from commercial pet food. It would be like saying that since humans are living longer today it must be because of fast food since it is so much more prevalent. Do you really believe that advances in veterinary medicine or the fact that dogs are treated more like beloved family members rather then just working animals has nothing to do with increased longevity?

I'm also a little discerned that you're admonishing other people for claiming that a raw diet is a "miracle cure" (something which I have never noticed anyone on this thread doing) yet you are basically claiming the same for Royal Canine? That seems very hypocritical to me.

The pre-made raw food I feed my dog is also regularly tested, it is also stored safely frozen. I am very concerned about food safety and wash my hands after handling her food. I also wash my hands after handling the raw meat I use as my own food. You are right that humans can get sick after encountering dog feces. However, that is just as true of kibble and wet food fed dogs as it is with raw fed dogs. That's why you should wash your hands after handling dog feces and clean up after your dog. And to note, human feces can transmit bacteria too, it's feces.

I appreciate your a veterinary student being taught by veterinarians. My veterinarian was also once a student, now that they have been in practice for decades as both a vet and a breeder, they recommend a raw diet. And yes, of course, they go over how to do it correctly and are there for support. Many veterinarians recommend a raw food diet.

There are many commercial dog foods out there (kibble and canned) that are very good, personally I don't feel Royal Canin is one of them, based on ingredients alone. If you feel good about feeding it to your pet, fine.

[HellRaiser]

I agree with the others- Raw feeding is great if you do it right. I switched my two dogs, Leia and Chloe, and my foster dog, Radke to raw for a period of time. They were doing very well, but it was a lot of work and it burned a hole in my wallet. I would really love to continue feeding them raw, but unfortunately my lack of funds prevents me.
((also i'm glad to see the regulars are still here!! i'm not sure if you remember me xD))

[Cardinal]

I think it also needs to be said that pretty much everyone thats come here seeking raw advice has had basic questions answered and then passed off to actual raw feeding communities that have way more information than this thread can provide.


Speaking of raw feeding.. I have 3 roosters in my freezer that I need to do something with. D; Picking up a duck on Saturday for the idiots. I have to say farmers are probably one of the best places to get free/cheap things from. The roosters were culls that were bullying the hens and the duck was part of a pet/egg/production flock that got out of the pen and into the road.. I'm sure the meat is fine, but I may throw out the organs if they're really damaged.

[Lonin]

It's dangerous, risky and you should not be advocating it to uneducated people without stating the cons in details, which are possible. Big round of applause your dog is great- but lot's aren't. Please post the cons so people can have a real choice instead of jumping on the bandwagon.
That's just like going to the doctor to get a new medication and not being told the cons, just the pros.

c: What are the cons of Royal Canin?