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Wednesday, July 4, 2012

Happy 4th of July and our thoughts on a RAW diet...

Happy 4th of July!  We hope you all have a wonderful day! 
...and oldie but goodie...
If you have been following us on Facebook, you will know that I've been attempting to try a RAW diet with our boys.  We've had a few success, but mostly failures.  Monty, for example, has been horrified that we expect him to eat raw food....
It was cold, and didn't have any spices, and it was like bleh!
Sam, on the other hand, has been at least willing to try what we are offering...
I ate a sardine and I liked it....
Why are we trying RAW?  Well, we are trying to improve the quality of what the boys are getting, find something Monty will actually eat, and give our boys a more natural diet.  I know the first thing everyone thinks of when they think of RAW are large packs of wild Golden Retriever's taking down a moose...  In fact, the thought was so disturbing I had to illustrate it.  Don't look if you are squeamish!
Click to make bigger.  The poor Moose never had a chance. 
We will keep trying.  Although, like the time we went on the all juice diet, I think this might take years for Monty to recover from trying a RAW diet...
The horrors I've seen...

36 comments:

  1. I loved your little cartoon. Yep, it's exactly what I thought the goldens I know would say.

    I too am trying to figure out the best diet for Honey. I find good nutrition helps everything from overall health to keeping fleas away.

    I've been feeding Honey FreshPet and am really happy with it. It's minimally processed, lightly cooked, and has no preservatives. Honey loves it so much we even use it for training.

    I can't remember if you're also looking at grain free but FreshPet has a grain-free line called Vital.

    And no, I don't work for them. I've just been really happy with the food and thrilled to find a high quality food available for once in grocery stories and Walmart (In a refrigerator; remember, it has no preservatives).

    Good luck finding a food solution that will make all of you happy.

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  2. You guys are funny. Glad you came by so we could meet you. :)

    Happy 4th.

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  3. Good luck figuring out the food situation. I have read about a raw diet, but just can't bring myself to give them raw food. I am pretty sure they would freak out, too. LOL!
    ~Maggie (MilShelb's Mom)

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  4. Happy Independence Day, you guys!
    Good luck with the food changes!
    Play bows,
    Zim

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  5. We love your drawing and good luck with your endeavors! Enjoy the holiday!

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  6. Happy Independence Day. I pretty much eat anything, RAW, cooked, dried, chewy, crunchy. I hope you find what works.
    Blessings,
    Goose

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  7. Happy Independence Day. I pretty much eat anything, RAW, cooked, dried, chewy, crunchy. I hope you find what works.
    Blessings,
    Goose

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  8. We know there are lots of pups who do very well on a raw diet. Did you try the raw food that come is the frozen logs? Mom sees those at the upscale pet stores here, but it is a bit pricey with four of us to feed. Good luck, we hope you can find what is best for the boys.

    Happy Independence Day and Happy Birthday to the U.S.A.!!!

    Woos - Phantom, Thunder, Ciara, and Lightning

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  9. Dear Sam and Monty,

    I eat a half raw diet and it's YUM! but then I eat roadkill so maybe I just have a taste for it. Maybe your mama can start you on some medium rare steak and go from there! You eat bones don't you? They're *ahem* rare! Sometimes, it's just the thought of eating something that makes you go yuk though they might taste quite good, you know, like roo and bunny.

    I LOVE your mamas drawing! You guys are so kind and sweet, but you're never going to feed your family if you carry on like Golden retrievers. Here's a tip! For a successful hunt, you need to show some GRRRRR and FANG.

    Regards, your friend Georgia The Fearsome PigDog X

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  10. That moose meeting looks like the one we might have. Mom says no moose in the house.

    Tucker and Daisy

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  11. Yes I had pictured a moose too! ;) Hope it becomes a good plan for you boys!! :)

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  12. We've never done the RAW diet. Mom has read all about listening to bone crunching and just couldn't bring herself to go any farther with that.
    Happy 4th of July, Sam and Monty!

    Love ya lots,
    Mitch and Molly

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  13. We haven't tried it. Our Lucy has a "delicate" stomach and we dare not change a thing about her diet. No problem since we stopped feeding her the "high quality" expensive food that turned out to be mostly grains! Now their food is commercial venison and veggies/fruits dry food along with a bit of canned pumpkin every day.

    Raw seems to be quite popular. Our grocery store has a huge refrigerated section in the pet food aisle. Good luck!

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  14. Oh-oh....
    Sure you two have different opinions about raw diet!
    Good luck!
    Happy 4th of July!
    Kisses and hugs
    Lorenza

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  15. I never ate anything raw or wild - except a mouse! Sardines sound very good to me.
    Its very nice of your mom to see what is best for you.
    That shows to me that she is a good mom.
    love
    tweedles

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  16. Hmmm.. The grin on the Moose face reminded me a whole bunch of Randy when he was 'bout 5 years old. He, too, loved to run and play, sleep in the bed with the adults and liked to be "at home".

    Grandpaw John

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  17. I love the drawing too! :-) Kudos to you for trying RAW! I have several friends who feed it successfully and their dogs reap the benefits!!

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  18. Happy 4th of July

    Stop on by for a visit
    Kari
    http://www.dogisgodinreverse.com

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  19. Dommy's been on a 1/2 raw diet since last year... i would love to put him fully on a raw diet but sometimes when we travel.. it is easier for the boarders to feed him.

    some days he goes on full raw.. he loves it. He don't like the fishes though :D he says fishes are for cats.

    good luck with Sam and Monty... with their food :)

    Happy Independence Day to you guys!

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  20. The specialist who treated my red golden recommended Orijen 6- fish grain free food. The doctor feeds her own healthy dog a thawed raw meat patty, and adds the dry Orijen with it. Although she believed in the raw diet, she thought it was a good idea to have the dog's system accoustomed to dry food in case she could not always give him raw (like when traveling, or other circumstances)
    I personally could not handle the raw food idea, and she thought the Orijens was a great alternative. She also added VEMMA liquid vitamin supplement to the mix for her own dog as additional antioxidants. She is an oncologist at OVRS with a special interest in complementary and holistic medicine. Dr. Bannink
    Another golden I know was switched to the fish diet as well, for skin allergies, and the change in his coat and condition was incredibly improved.
    Monty and Sam are very lucky to have such a caring and adoring family. I really enjoy reading about them, they are adorable and quite the characters.

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  21. We hope you had a lovely 4th July.
    Best wishes Molly

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  22. Wanted to drop by to wish you a Happy 4th July...and see how you are doing.
    Our dogs thrive on quality commercial dog food - Eukaneuba & Hills.
    I have no reason to change, although I know many people recommend RAW. Not for me, though :)
    Sending lotsaluv
    MAXMOM IN SOUTH AFRICA

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  23. Happy 4th of July Sam! You look great today :D

    Dog Shock Collar | Puppy Bond

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  24. LOL!!! Love the cartoon. How else would Goldens take down a moose?? I started feeding my boys Blue Buffalo about a year and a half ago. I just couldn't bring myself to try RAW.

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  25. My dogs love the RAW Diet and since I don't mind handling raw food we have no problems.. except when they want to eat it on the carpet... yeah no. LOOOoved the cartooon! way too cute!!

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  26. Hope you all had a great Lola's birthday.... er, we mean 4th! :)

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  27. We feed ours Orijen which is as close as you can feed to raw by using kibble. Mom doesn't know enough about meats and stuff to let us eat a real raw diet. BOL

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  28. BMFAO - love the Moose scenario. So true!! Aww Monty, you are so sweet and so high maintenance. Just makes you that much more lovable. Sam, you will do anything fur yer Mum. Loves from KT and Rooooooooooos from Easton

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  29. Thank you for your kind words over our recent loss of our Monty. We apologize for being so slow in thanking you.

    You are all so handsome! We like that drawing!

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  30. Poor Sam and Monty. They are always being subjected to the latest and greatest. Your family loves you guys, really they do.
    Good luck and have a great weekend.

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  31. LOL on the drawing!!!
    A friend of mine feeds her German Shepard raw diet and he is very healthy and handsome! I have asked her about it. I do believe that you would need to give some vitamins as supplements. I have given June and Samantha some raw meat but just as a treat, not as a complete meal.
    Poor Monty and Sam, they just looked so horrified by that change of diet.

    YD

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  32. Our pups just tried and LOVED Stella and Chewy's Freeze Dried Raw diet. Easy to use (we tried it for times when we travel, usually I cook for the WDA)not too gross and highly rated, you might try that.

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  33. I'm sure that you really enjoyed it with your friends. Happy Independence :D


    Dog Shock Collar | Puppy Bond

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  34. Our westies have been on a RAW diet since they were old enough to eat. I'll try and help you, if you like.

    First - there was a post on feeding RAW with Kibble - that is really not advisable as RAW food takes different enzymes to break down then dry kibble - so you are 'taxing' the dogs digestive system by giving two different types of food.

    Second - when feeding a raw diet - it's not about tossing raw meats into a bowl for your pet - this homemade diet needs to have the proper amount of meats, fruits, veggies and supplements - such as a multi-vitamin, calcium, etc for a dog to have a complete and balanced meal. There are many books available on this.

    Third - there are excellent 'complete' raw diets available - we use K9 Kravings - which is a COMPLETE meal - that is something you would need to look for - the word Complete - there is Primal, Bravo, Stella & Chewy - just to name a few.

    Fourth - visit my Facebook group page called -
    WESTIES HEALTH -- FROM EARS TO TAIL. There is a lot of info on diet, allergies as well as general health questions specific to westies but some questions/answers will be appropriate for any breed.

    Fifth - feeding a raw diet does take a little more effort in the proper handling of the food - such as using a metal bowl - handing this food is no different than handling raw ground beef, for example.

    If you send me an e-mail I can can send you a [word] document on dog food - it's 18 printed pages but it's a wealth of info all in one place.

    All the best - Katie
    www.westiejulep.blogspot.com

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  35. BOL! Oh my what faces! Hahahhaha! Yap, I gave Mom some of the same looks when she first started me on the Raw Diet. Wouldn't want to eat anything else now though :) Wishin you success!

    Waggin at ya,
    Roo

    PeeS: Luv the moose take down illustration. Hilarious!

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  36. I would love to try the Raw Diet on my coon hound, Daisy, but as you mentioned it is a gamble because some dogs just don't have the stomach for it. I agree that dogs (and humans as well) need a nutritious balanced diet to stay healthy but it takes time to get the right own to "fit" the dog.

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