Best Dog Food & Cat Food Options for Your Healthy Pet!

Raw Eggs

2 User Reviews
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1 star (1) 
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Posted by Patricia (Miami, Florida) on 11/05/2009
★☆☆☆☆

WARNING!

My vet has informed me that raw eggs are not good to give to your dog, he mentioned it could have a detrimental effect on the liver. I have seen other posts where people have recommended raw eggs for pets though.

Replied by Countrygrown
(Sacramento, Ca)
06/02/2011
★★★★★

All of my life (that's a long time) we have fed all of our dogs raw eggs. It makes their coats shiny and good for their skin. The thing you don't want to do with raw eggs is seperate the whites from the yolks. There is a chemical substance in the white of the egg that the yolk counter acts against. Could be vice versa. I can't remember the name of the substance but as long as you keep them together, raw eggs are fine. I also beat them a little to make sure they are getting the yolk with the egg. I don't give them everyday though. I'm sure there are others who give them more often. When I run across the article that tells me the name of the breakdown of the whites and yolks I'll post it. Sorry, I can't remember the name of the substance. I think that if you don't give your dog just all whites, or all yolks, you won't have any problems unless their allergic to eggs. Lol. This could have been another "garlic" type of issue. I have used garlic for years and now all of a sudden it's bad for your dogs. I still use it. My dogs also have always eaten onions and grapes too. No chocolate though. The onions, raisins and grapes is a new one on me. If you get anymore info about the eggs hope you post it. It's always about keeping the four legged kids happy and healthy. Blessings, Cg


Raw Food Diet

5 User Reviews
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Posted by Lokismum (Banbury, Oxforsshire England) on 02/06/2012
★★★★★

Please please feed your dogs raw. Both my dogs now seven and nine have been fed raw since very young pups. There is much advice online out there, and good books to read. It is so much less expensive than ccommercial so called food. Would a wild dog naturally eat cereals? Would a wild dog naturally eat processed cooked food? No, so why do humans think processed carbohydrates are good food for dogs? Feed as close to nature as you can and you will have happy healthy dogs. Raw meat, raw chicken carcasses with the bones, raw green tripe, offal, meaty bones, whole rabbits, and whatever you can get. Let them eat grass when they want. Supplement with a good brand of seaweed. If you love your dogs then you will feed them this way. Do please get as much good advice as you can. I now find that even the vets who always told me I was wrong, are now recommending raw!!!

Replied by Jr
(Coloma, Mi)
02/07/2012

Lokismum... I've been feeding my dog raw now for a couple of years. When I started I fed raw bones but then the homeopath that was treating the dog said, "no bones" unless she catches the animal herself. She said that carcasses we get from the grocery store already have rigor set in and can splinter and cause trouble. Since you have been feeding raw for so long, what kind of bones do you feed? Do you feed vegetables?


Raw Food Diet
Posted by Diamond (Salisbury, Usa) on 10/02/2011

I just adopted two seven year old cats, they are so beautiful, but they have been on an iams diet for that amount of years, they have ended up way over weight & one is so big I can barely see her feet, the other isn't quite as heavy and very out going, today I have been searching for a rich but low balance food. I hope to help these cats back to normal health & save their lives, before they get any sicker.

Here is some thing really great I would like to share; I read during my search, I have read this many times before from different people/pet lovers/owners etc.

http://www.rawlearning.com/worming.html

There is so much more of the truth out there on how we are treating or allowing our pets to be treated by vets. "Please read"I am for sure going to make greater changes for my pets now.

Also no animal has to have all these shots after a certain age. I do believe two shots ARE rabies & distemper. "AND those shots most times if they are subcutaneous they can be bought at agway and/or any feed & grain store, its just a light pinch on surface skin & inject fluid. I save so much money from all of this rather than the run around like a merry-go-round.

I recently mentioned to my vet via a phone conversation if he could give me a little bit of advice over the phone as to what & how to rid a cat of mange(?) he says bring her in and I will check her thyroid(?)it just doesn't make any sense to me.

During the time when every one lost their pets due to iams products, every one of mine died; I never knew that friskies or 9 lives was an iams product, now I try my best to find the best food ever to save my pets, and those that care to. I find that most raw food diets are as affordable as iams, or any other low grade products, I feel my animals deserve that much. Thank you all.


Raw Food Diet
Posted by Carolin (West Hollywood, Ca ) on 09/15/2011
★★★★★

Until 7 years ago all kinds of problems would acute with my pets, ever sense I was introduced to raw food diet not once has there been a single dog problem that I had to worry about dogs are carnivores no kidding they get yeast infection?!!! The dog foods out there are unreal and I'm not sure how they could still contents there outrage called food, if you look into it more and understand what your putting in their body I assure you, you will never do it again. Disgusting what these poor things are eating and don't know it's not food it's garbage, only dry I give if I don't have raw is oregen 80% protean. Only one out there so far the contains this. You must wonder what is the rest? Ya you should that's my peace and I will never do that to my dog again- my doxy lived to be 19 or we had to put him down 7 years prior it's a medical food.


Raw Food Diet
Posted by Anonymous (Manitowoc, Wisconsin, Usa) on 04/06/2010

People are reporting elsewhere on the site that feeding their pet a raw food diet corrects many health issues. It might be worth trying.


Raw Food Diet
Posted by Ozarkansaw (Little Rock, Ar, Usa) on 03/31/2010
★★★★★

Raw Diet for Dogs - A Cure-All

About a year ago, I started my dog on a raw meat and bones diet. There are many benefits to this diet, and as a 9 year old my dog has never been healthier! This is a long post, but I am afraid they are going to omit my links...so here goes!

First off, here are some of the benefits that I have noticed:
1. Major Improvement in Allergies
2. Less problems with fleas and ticks
3. Clean teeth with no tartar buildup
4. Increase in energy and stamina
5. Shiny coat
6. Improved digestion
7. Much smaller stools (due to no fillers, grains ect)
8. Improved overall health
9. Can cost less than premium kibble, especially for large dogs! I am saving a ton of money feeding RAW to my rott puppy.

There are many great websites to learn the specifics, but here is the basic idea:

Feed approximately 2% to 3% of the dog's body weight daily, feed more if you can feel the ribs, and less if they look pudgy. For puppies feed 2% to 3% of their ADULT WEIGHT.
Organ meat needs to be about 10% of the diet
Try to use a variety of meat to offer more nutrition
You will be feeding mostly muscle meat and meaty bones; you are feeding too much bone if the dog gets constipated, or if the stool is pure white. Too little bone can cause diarrhea. I feed muscle meat with no bone at one meal and meaty bone for the other.

Muscle Meat-Hearts, gizzards, ground meat, tongue
Organ Meat-Liver & Kidney of any animal
Meaty Bones-Chicken & Turkey (quarters, breast, necks, wings, backs), Deer, Rabbit, Pig (feet, necks, tails, roast), lamb, beef (ribs, necks)

BEWARE:
1. Your dog will likely go through a detox period when switching from kibble. They will probably have diarrhea, but it will go away.
2. Start with chicken legs and breast, the high bone content will help the diarrhea go away. Add variety & organs SLOWLY after a month or two.
3. Monitor their meals to begin, most dogs are so excited to get meat, and are used to swallowing kibble without chewing! Once they learn that you are always going to feed RAW they will slow down! Don't feed small pieces at first!
4. READ LABELS!!! Most grocery store meat is loaded with extra ingredients such as flavor and salt. Do not give this to your dog! It will make them sick. If unsure, check the sodium level, it should be around 3% per serving.
5. Don't grind the meat; this can cause constipation and they won't get the dental benefits.
6. Don't think you have to buy pre-made diets. They are very expensive and usually have vegetables and other additives. It is better to just by meat from a butcher!

Hopefully they will allow me to keep these links! They are the best most straightforward that I have found and are excellent resources!!! Please read these before you start! My advice is much more simplistic and does not cover as much as the provided links.
http://www.rawlearning.com/rawfaq.html
http://rawfed.com/myths/feedraw.html

Feeding a raw diet takes some time to get used to, but once you get the hang of it you will be doing the best thing for your dog. After all, this is the way dogs ate before kibble.

Replied by LC
(Nc, Usa)
02/22/2011
★★★★★

I have two dogs, both of whom are overweight even though they get long walks each day. My golden retriever was 20 pounds overweight and the vet kept telling me she must to lose weight before she gets much older (she just turned 5). I tried different brands of high-end dog food, a fully home cooked diet for 6 months, monitoring calories, etc. but nothing helped, however. Then I got them started about 6 weeks ago on a raw food diet... raw meaty bones at one meal, and ground turkey or ground beef mixed with an assortment of blended raw vegetables at the other meal. They looked very healthy before, but now they look so incredible, people are commenting on how healthy and happy they look as we walk by on the street! My goldie has lost about 8 pounds, so we have another 2-3 months at least before her weight gets down to where I can feel her ribs. But this is the first time I have found a meal plan that actually works. What a relief! Their teeth have turned pearly white and they have no more dental tartar.Oh and their breath smells sooo much better too!

Okay now, it is somewhat tricky locating the meat at a reasonble price. I had found some chicken wings and drumsticks in bulk at Costco, but they weren't organic and I was worried about the hormones and antibiotics they were feed. Then I located chicken backs and necks at Whole Foods. They were priced cheaply when I started to buy there, but then they more than doubled the price within two weeks, unfortunately. Too many people buying for their dogs, I guess. The chicken backs are the best for removing tartar! A raw food diet is more expensive than buying kibble, but I think it is definitely worth it in the long run.

I had absolutely no issues when I switched the dogs over to a raw meat diet. No diarrhea. I have fed them raw chicken ribs, drumsticks, backs, necks without any issues of bones splintering. I was less worried about this than most people because I had tried a raw meat diet with another of my dogs about a decade ago and never had any issues. In fact, within 24 hours, the bones come out in the #2 in tiny pieces and decompose at an incredible rate, turning to chalk within a day or two. I do supplement them with fish oil 3x a week and am currently looking for a multi-vitamin to add to their food a few times a week. I might look at horse supply companies to keep my costs down.

I highly recommend this diet for those who have overweight dogs that like mine, aren't losing weight with exercise or dietary changes! I also suggest buying a book or two on the subject to figure out how much to feed your dogs. Mine need about 1 lb of food at every meal.

Replied by Kate
(Charlotte, North Carolina)
01/17/2013

Due to long term unemployment I wasn't able to barely afford even the "good holistic" food for my girl. I found a way, thank to God for provision. I finally got a p/t job and some extra $ from family members. I switched my 12.5 year old German Shorthair Pointer girl to Sojo's Veggie mixed with Basmati Rice as her health was failing.

I could not afford the Vet. This food plus some vitamins and herbals for her made a major difference. In a month she lost about 8 lbs (she really wasn't overweight) but this helped her back and hind legs/knees as well. I can say that I will do whatever I can to always keep her on this food.

I now add some fresh ground meat (cooked) to her food. She acts like her old happy, playful self. Her bloated belly is all gone, ear wax/funk is all gone and she is just happier and I am as well.


Raw Food Diet
Posted by Jo (Hemet, Ca) on 10/17/2009

I just adopted a teeny, weeny, 3 lb 6oz, Chihuahua. I KNOW that commercial dog food is not healthy for my little girl. I would definitely like to go raw, but because of her size......I am a little nervous. Anyone have any suggestions as to what might be best for her? I rescued her from the Humane Society...she seems a little on the skinny side, but appears healthy otherwise.

I am a huge ACV fan, so I would like to put a few drops in her drinking water or mix it with her food and am really looking for suggestions on type of food and amounts. I feel like one wrong move with as small as she is....well, you understand.


Raw Food Diet
Posted by Celleste (Penang, Malaysia) on 09/15/2009

Dear all pet owners who are feeding raw,

I hope to start feeding my dog raw, but would like some advice/ suggestions first from seasoned raw-feeders. How did you go about the transition from their previous food to raw? Did you just start putting raw meat on their plate and they eat it? And how did you sterilize the food? Did you take extra precaution on washing around the dog's mouth after feeding? My dog is an indoor pet, he loves to lick (us) and sleeps with us on the bed, so hygiene is of my main concern.

Thank you very much in advance. Looking forward to your feedback!


Raw Food Diet
Posted by Liz (Elk River, Minnesota) on 01/30/2009
★★★★★

Raw Diet for Dogs (or cats or ferrets):

My 2 large breed dogs (Rotweiller & German Shepherd) have been on a raw diet for almost 2 years and are doing great. I have gotten most of my information from a Yahoo Group called 'rawfeeding'. They have over 13,000 members, up from 8,000 when I joined 2 yrs ago.

The dogs get only muscle meat, raw bone that is connected to the muscle meat and organs (the squidgy type) for vital nutrients. 80% meat/10% bone/10% organ

I advertise on different sites for freezer burnt meat and get a great variety. My freezer is always full. Chicken is best to start with for the first month, then start adding other meat gradually.

My guys have chicken, beef, pork, venison, elk, buffalo, rabbit, fish, etc. They haven't turned anything down, yet.

Stay away from processed meat like bacon, sausage, ham, lunch meat, hot dogs, etc. I rarely eat that food, either.


Raw Food Diet
Posted by Suzanne (Southeast, Michigan) on 04/27/2008

My 9 yr old lab mix and my two bichons have been on a raw meaty bones/raw food diet for two years now. Because they're eating raw bones, their stools are harder because there's no filler in the food like there is in dry food; harder poop clears out the anal glands. They also have no more skin allergies, super clean teeth, healthier gums, skin and coats, way lower volume of poop, the list goes on. The book Raw Meaty Bones is a good place to start. Commercial dog foods are awful for dogs.

Replied by Tammy
(Columbus, OH)
06/11/2009

I have a 32 lb mixed breed. I would like to know the amount daily to feed and the cost associated with the raw food diet. Thank you!


Raw Food Diet
Posted by Suzanne (Southeast, Michigan) on 04/27/2008

For those of you who have dogs with skin problems, skin allergies, please consider a raw diet. This is something that is becoming more well known and is growing in popularity. Commercial dog foods are the cause of so many health problems in pets. My three dogs and one cat have been eating a raw diet for two years now. Raw meaty bones, some organ meat, and then a couple times a week, a few supplements like fish oil, yogurt, raw egg, kale. It's similar to something called the BARF diet for pets, but a simplified version. Two books by Tom Lonsdale, Raw Meaty Bones, and Work Wonders, are a good place to start reading about the diet. There are web sites and yahoogroups as well. My dogs teeth are super clean and white (even my 9yr old lab) because they're eating like their ancestors did; ripping the meat off bones, chomping on bone (raw bones only -- cooked bones are a choking hazard). Sicne starting this diet, besides being overall healthier pets, other benefits: clear anal glands because the poop is a bit harder, healthier skin and coat, no dog smell or doggy breath, much less poop because no fillers, etc., as in dry food I never have to clean up poop in my yard! Natural diet means natural poop; in a few days, it turns white and crumbles away. Also, my dogs are happier. They love the raw diet. I had one very stubborn cat who I just couldn't get to transition to a raw diet, so I fed her Evo, the more natural dry food. That did help her allergies, but I still would rather she went raw.


Raw Food Diet
Posted by Lisa (Rancho Cucamonga, Ca) on 10/26/2007

Right before the big recall I had mostly cut all kibble from my two italian greyhound's diets. After the recall I stopped with kibble all together. I now feed a combination of raw (some pre made, and sometimes whole chicken, including bone) and other days cooked chicken or salmon with avacado, pumpkin, flaxseed oil, and acidophilus. My girls have done WONDERFUL on this diet. Their teeth look amazing from eating the raw bone and their coats are extremely shiny. This is great being that they are both 'show dogs'. Its always nice when someone is impressed with their condition and wants information on what I feed. Prior to feeding raw my 2 year old was having a lot of stomach upsets. Even with feeding just home made cooked food she was still having some issues (although better than on kibble). After introducing raw a couple times a week, her stomach problems are completely gone.


Raw Marrow Bone

1 User Review
5 star (1) 
  100%

Posted by Kathryn4 (Owings, Md.) on 03/29/2013
★★★★★

To replace a meal I give my dog a raw marrow bone to chew on. It cleans his teeth and the vet said she never saw a dog's teeth as fine as mine. Remember to clean out the marrow or most of it else your dog could get the runs.

Replied by Kathryn4
(Owings, Md.)
04/03/2013

Let us reduce our vet bills:).

Replied by Anon
(Ny)
04/03/2013

Hi. Can you tell which type of bones are safe and where you get them? Thanks.

Replied by Kathryn4
(Maryland)
04/05/2015

Sorry, that I have not gotten back to this question, I get raw marrow bones at our grocery store from the butcher. I scrape out 95% of the marrow as too much of this can gives some dogs diarrhea. He chews and vet always says how good his teeth look. Actually I use it as a meal replacement once a week.


Reader Feedback

2 User Reviews
5 star (1) 
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1 star (1) 
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Posted by Brenda (Palmetto, Ga, Usa) on 08/02/2012

I have a 5 yr. Yorkie (under 10lbs) and he will not eat dog food. I have tried every brand, type, wet, dry. He will eat bologna, hot dogs, but I know this is not good for him to continue, so I boil chicken. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

Replied by Wendy
(Columbus, Oh/usa)
08/03/2012

First of all, definitely STOP ALL people food! People food is NOT healthy for dogs (except the occasional RAW veggie or fruit and boiled chicken or hamburger with a little white rice if they have diarreah). Make sure you check this ASPCA link for a list of foods that are toxic to pets:

http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/poison-control/people-foods.aspx

Try a higher-quality/better-quality/grain-free dog food. I feed my dog the Taste of the Wild brand and she loves it. If you go to a higher-end pet store they sometimes carry sample packets of the better dog food that you can try with your Yorkie.

NOTE: when switching dog foods remember to switch the food gradually. For example, if you currently feed your dog 1 cup of food twice a day, then start with @3/4 cup of the old food PLUS 1/4 of the new food twice day. Do this for @ 1 week, then the next week, continue to lessen the old food and increase the new food. Make sure to contact your vet if you have any questions about your dog's reaction to the new food (you may need to get a different new food, or the vet may recommend something else).

You might also try mixing dry food with a little bit of wet food (the same brand) OR adding a little bit of hot water to the dry food and stirring it up to make a sort of gravy. I know my dog loves it when I do that.

You could also get canned UNSALTED green beans from your supermarket and add a couple of tablespoons in with the food. This adds bulk to the meal, but no fat or calories.

Again, contact your vet, even with a phonecall and talk with a vet tech to save money, if you have further questions or concerns.

Cindya99
(WA)
04/26/2022

Re: aspca- foods not to feed..... many vets, breeders, and pet parents feed raw food to thier dog. Aspca says do not. I am not sure aspca is not being 100% truthful. I would research a bit more regarding raw food diet for dog. If I give My dog cooked meat, or carb loaded dog food she always gets serious skin issues that take forever to heal. Just a suggestion.

Replied by Wendy
(Columbus, Oh/usa)
08/03/2012

In response to Brenda's post, I also wanted to add that when you switch your Yorkie's food to ONLY dog food, don't start feeling sorry for her and start feeding her people food again if she doesn't eat the dog food right away. Hold your ground and be vigilant! If she ignores the dog food, that's fine! She'll eat it when she gets hungry enough. Don't cave in!

Replied by Wendy
(Beds, Uk)
01/07/2016

To say you shouldn't feed people foods isn't;t quite right, after all, most people foods are natural foods, dogs are (were) slightly omnivorous when scavenging and they would have eaten all sorts in the wild and their digestive system is tuned for it.

Yes, they are mostly carnivorous, but some of the first pieces of prey they would eat would be the stomach, intestines and contents, and this would normally be full of vegetable matter.

Therefore feeding many of the foods we feed is OK in moderation.

For instance, check out the lists first here: http://moderndogmagazine.com/articles/10-people-foods-dogs/1896 and here: http://www.labradortraininghq.com/labrador-health-and-care/can-dogs-eat-apples-tomatoes-eggs-bread/

They list many human foods dogs can eat, along with the reasons why :-)


Reader Feedback
Posted by Angelatx (Austin, Tx) on 05/23/2012

My cat has suffered UTI's pretty much her entire life and then I did my on research and the ash in her food is what causes it! I switched her food to ash free and we have been UTI free for 3 years. Then my other cat that is older started losing weight and after vet visits and nothing again did my own research. Come to find out she is allergic to something in the Ash free food. Now she is back on the original. Now this is where I may lose my mind. Sheckie the one that has to have Ash free I cannot keep her out of the other food. Everytime I turn my back they work together so she can have it. I need a cat food that is both Ash free and my other cat can also eat. She is on Purina One. I am trying to find the ingredients on line to compare with the Meow Mix. See what is comparable and may see what she may be allergic too. Once I took her off of the Ash free my other cat Misti regained her weight in a month and started playing again.... The simple things. Now if they just wouldn't be a pain! Lol... Smarties! I ran out of Sheckies UTI free med and when I went to purchase more it is a whole lot more expensive. After I drop my child at school I am going to get some ACV!



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