RAW advice, please!

tsukitsunetsukitsune
edited July 2008 in Food, Nutrition, & Health
We have been slowly introducing all aspects RAW with the dogs, especially Hachi as she is new to it.
Two days ago we fed them all liver for their dinner portions. Yesterday they had almost black, very splarty poops.
This morning they did not go, which is unusual as they go mostly on the morning walk. Our two usually only twosie once a day since starting a more intensely RAW diet.

We started Hachi during her first week with AM kibble and PM RAW, with bland meat and veggies. Then second week we did beef and turkey RMB intros, all went well, the week 4 we introduced eggs. Went well. Then lamb meal, all went well.
Once she did well with the lamb, we tried the liver... our dogs have had liver before, and did fine with it.

Could it just be that this liver was too nutrient rich? or off?
Is it better just to switch cold turkey to raw? Because I don't think we're ready for that yet, but if it would ultimately be easier for Hachi, we'll do it.

Comments

  • brandon_wbrandon_w
    edited November -1
    How much liver did you give them? Liver is very, very rich.

    I don't have my Holistic Guide to a Healthy Dog next to me, but I think you are supposed to max out at like 5oz a week or so.
  • tsukitsunetsukitsune
    edited November -1
    we only give liver or other organs once a week, usually on a low key night (no dog park trips, hiking).
    We actually give our dogs different organ foods once a week, last week Tsuki and Kitsu got tripe (so gross), one week they had kidney.
    We got 1/4 calves liver, and split it 3 ways since they are all similar in weight. we make it into a meal with yellow squash, carrots, flaxseed oil and very little kale, yeast vitamin and a few drops of vitamin C and E - with RAW dinner only. Our dogs have handled this before.. but not this past time.
  • brandon_wbrandon_w
    edited November -1
    I'd try mixing the liver into another no organ meat when feeding, kind of more like a supplement, less as the main protien.

    Are you feeding ground green tripe? That stuff has a real stank to it, Nemo loves it.
  • tsukitsunetsukitsune
    edited November -1
    they go NUTS for tripe. totally grosses me out, and skanks up the whole house, but they drool waiting for it.

    I actually have a sheet somewhere with a recipe for dehydrated tripe/apple bars.. never had the stomach to try it yet, but I'm sure they'd love it.
  • HarlowHarlow
    edited November -1
    I offered one of my Malamutes liver and he wrinkled up his lips, and started sticking his tongue out and in like he had eaten something horrible! What a goof.
  • sujewelsujewel
    edited November -1
    LMAO, Patty. That's hilarious.
  • tsukitsunetsukitsune
    edited July 2008
    is this pathetic - for my 23rd bday, I asked my family for gift certificates to my local butcher.. and got some.. and was excited.
    the things we do for our dogs.
    OH
    and we had healthy poops this afternoon. I'm going to maybe try chicken liver next time and if that does the same, maybe eliminate liver all together or do it in much smaller portions.
  • tsukitsunetsukitsune
    edited November -1
    After discussing the liver issue with the nutritionist..
    she suggested either
    a. full raw diet
    b. full kibble diet
    or
    c. rotate kibble and raw days with one fast day during the week

    Has anyone tried C, doing kibble one day - or even for one meal - than raw? I still don't feel that I know enough to do a full raw diet, so I'm hesitant to dive in and cut out the kibble cold turkey.
    Does anyone fast their pups? Is this something natural for them?
  • tsukitsunetsukitsune
    edited November -1
    also, if we're providing a diverse range of organ meats when we switch to 100% raw, is there a real need for a lot of supplementation to the diet?
    I've made a chart of dietary needs and what they will extract from every supposed meal plan, and it seems I'd only really need to add Fish Oil for omega 3's & 6's, a digestive enzyme and possibly probiotic.
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