Raw diets,

[niamh123]

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That's great news,I wish my dogs were still on raw

 

[excuseme]

Sounds like it's going well.

I've had to stop raw feeding Harri unfortunately. I'm far from convinced that it would be an infection risk but as a therapy dog he isn't permitted raw.

Oh what a shame, I do hope his general health does not become affected.
Best wishes.

 

[excuseme]

I decided to move my boy onto a raw diet a while back. The argument made by raw feeders on here along with honeys book and guidance was just too compelling.

Anyway now he has had some time to settle into the diet I just thought I would provide an update. I have to say from day one of the change in diet the changes were amazing. On kibble my boy was farting constantly and smelt so bad it burned your nose. Since around day 2 of the move this stopped overnight. He still passes wind occasionally however the smell is not offensive. Along with this his poo is perfectly formed, solid, slightly tacky and lifts off the patio without leaving a smear. Well poo before the raw diet sometimes was ok but mostly sloppy and misinformed.

He was never a fussy eater but now gets really excited when I touch his dinner bowl so he clearly prefers it. In addition one thing that shocked me was how much his poo reduced in size and also how much his water consumption decreased. Still passes urine in similar quantity but gets a lot from food now. Generally he is gaining weight and growing nicely. His coat is in great condition. Full of energy and generally happy. Moving to raw really was what was best for him. It's nowhere near as expensive as you may expect or anywhere near as difficult as you would expect. Well worth a try for anyone considering diets for their little fury friend.

Great news happy dog.
Thanks for the update, we all like to hear positive results.

 

[Mad Murphy]

Glad to hear your dog is doing so well. Finally convincing my OH that raw was the best thing for Murphy wasn't easy but well worth it , now OH has seen the benefits for himself he has become very enthusiastic. Plus both Murphy and George are clearly benefiting from it.

 

[niamh123]

I never thought it would be an infection risk but it has in my hubby's case
I am still really gutted about having to stop feeding raw,although I will always promote it
But do not leave our bad luck stop you feeding raw in my opinion raw is the best diet for our dog's

 

[excuseme]

Glad to hear your dog is doing so well. Finally convincing my OH that raw was the best thing for Murphy wasn't easy but well worth it , now OH has seen the benefits for himself he has become very enthusiastic. Plus both Murphy and George are clearly benefiting from it.

That's fantastic.
Well done convincing your other half to change over. I don't think you will ever regret it. (well, at least, I hope you don't)
Happy feeding.

 

[Alanward87]

Sounds like it's going well.

I've had to stop raw feeding Harri unfortunately. I'm far from convinced that it would be an infection risk but as a therapy dog he isn't permitted raw.

I never thought it would be an infection risk but it has in my hubby's case
I am still really gutted about having to stop feeding raw,although I will always promote it

Are these infection risks in relation to humans? I agree with the confusion as it's like saying it's too risky preparing your own food. That being said if the doctors told me that I think I would need to seriously consider if it was worth the risk.

Also thanks all

 

[Mad Murphy]

That's fantastic.
Well done convincing your other half to change over. I don't think you will ever regret it. (well, at least, I hope you don't)
Happy feeding.

I used to feed my old dog raw in the mince type but OH was working away and didnt have much to do with the dogs. When Murphy arrived he was shy about raw and OH took that as a sign to switch to steamed wet and dry food. Murphy has allergies (beef grain cut grass) and these are things that have helped me convince OH to make the change. Since weve stopped the dry his allergies are much better he still wont eat beef but hes not so itchy in the grass and the lack of grain means no more tummy upsets.

 

[Caro Perry]

Are these infection risks in relation to humans? I agree with the confusion as it's like saying it's too risky preparing your own food. That being said if the doctors told me that I think I would need to seriously consider if it was worth the risk.

Also thanks all

Yes - the fear is that the dogs might transfer salmonella or e-coli bugs etc to vulnerable people with low resistance. I doubt any meaningful research has been done on the actual risk though.

At the moment I'd say NHS sandwiches seem to pose a considerable risk!

 

[Kara 1]

There is also a risk with dog kibble having salmonella. ....i have been feeding raw for years and have never had a problem and i handle the raw meat daily ....

 

[Alanward87]

Yes - the fear is that the dogs might transfer salmonella or e-coli bugs etc to vulnerable people with low resistance. I doubt any meaningful research has been done on the actual risk though.

At the moment I'd say NHS sandwiches seem to pose a considerable risk!

Agreed I would suspect that it's totally unsubstantiated and as long as you give the dog good quality meat for example cheap cuts and bone from a local butcher I cant see how it poses any more risk than making your own dinner. But then again what do we know. Common sense doesn't get considered in modern society

 

[JudyN]

To be fair, though, although preparing raw dog food doesn't pose any greater risk than preparing meat for humans, a dog might slobber on you after eating raw, or lick his fur that you then stroke, or sling some of the meal onto the floor, then stand on it or hold it down with his paws, and then share the sofa with you. In the absence of any decent research, I think it makes sense that raw feeding may be higher risk to humans who have a compromised immune system, and it makes sense to err on the side of safety. (I am ignoring the fact that kibble-fed dogs will still lick their bums and slobber, share sofas, etc. )

Even good-quality raw meat will still often contain salmonella, camphylobacter and other nasties, it's just that dogs' digestive systems are designed to deal with them.

 

[niamh123]

My Hubby contracted Campylobactor preparing the dogs food we are in our 7th week now and he is still unwell
Do not let our experience put you off feeding raw this is the first time in 18 years of feeding raw that this has happened and in my opinion raw is the best diet for our dogs

 

[Mad Murphy]

Common sense doesn't get considered in modern society

^^^^ Hear Hear. well said.

Of course there are safeguards and procedures that should be carefully followed when prepping any food, human, animal, raw, cooked or a combo of both ! We have a dog food freezer, meals are cut and prepped on their chopping board and everything, including bowls, is rinsed in hot water then washed in the dishwasher after each use. Washing hands is a normal practice for us we also have a parrot so cleaning up after him and the dogs means we wash our hands a lot. I have never been ill from my parrot or my dogs.

But I have been made so sick from BBQs twice that I will never even attend a BBQ again and as I write my son in law is a at home in bed after eating a salmon salad that was obviously contaminated, he has puppy pads in the bed because he cant be sure of getting to the bathroom in time and has a bucket next to the bed for the waste from the other end. This young man is a wreck hardly able to get up and walk at the moment.

So if the reasons/risks for not feeding raw were applied to BBQs and salmon salads both these things would now be banned by law!

 

[Flobo]

Common sense seems to becoming a lost sense with everybody asking google how to live a life! My ferrets, snake and my old dog were and are all on a variety of raw meats and mice, myself and daughter are vegan/vegetarian, my husband a part time carnivore, none of us have got ill from it, just using common sense and basic hygiene in storage and preparation. Though sorry @niamh123 for your husbands illness I am sure that was contracted by bad luck rather than lack of sense on your part, by the way I absolutely love your dogs, I seem to have a big soft spot for an english bull terrier!

 

[JudyN]

I know one person who contracted camphylobacter from raw dog food - she worked in the factory that produced it, there was a mechanical malfunction, and she got liberally showered in chicken mince!

 

[niamh123]

Yes it was just bad luck we had a cleaning ritual the dogs had their own chopping board and everything was bleached in boiling water afterwards all suraces were highly cleaned so yes it was just bad luck it's just a pity hubby is paying for it