The article has been updated now and added to the main site here I have added my thoughts on Barbara's question. What do other's think?
Re: Switching to raw Very interesting article thank you . It is indeed a minefield , this feeding issue , we all want to do our very best for our dogs but the conflicting advice is confusing so its good to read an informative article . I feed CSJ kibble to both dogs, with added veg , living where we do we often get given mackerel which I give to the dogs . I cook the fish but your article has made me think that prehaps I should let them eat it raw ? We also get the odd rabbit which again I have cooked but will think about giving this raw too . Thanks again Pippa, its food for thought, pardon the pun
Re: Switching to raw Hi kate, if you feed cooked rabbit or fish, you will need to remove all bones. Could be fiddly. Mackerel are fine raw but some dogs will vomit them up to begin with, and some fish have nasty spines which we snip off. Not so sure of the virtue of feeding raw occasionally, as I think the dog's digestion needs to adapt. Incidentally, I find it fascinating how all dogs seem to know instinctively to turn a fish around and eat it head first. Even if you offer them the tail.
Re: Switching to raw barney once caught a fish in the river and swallowed it when I tried to call him - it looked like it went down sideways in his haste but as it was only a couple of inches long and tiny I'm sure it hit the back of his throat head first ;D - very fresh!
Re: Switching to raw Sounds like Barney is a dog of many talents! Part two is out today Switching to Raw Part Two
Re: Switching to raw Picking those fiddly bones out of a cooked rabbit is the devils own of a job, hate it . So it would be alright to feed the rabbit raw then Pippa ?
Re: Switching to raw Hi Kate, I know that some people do mix the two, but personally I don't believe in feeding 'a bit' of raw. So, I would not feed raw rabbit or any other raw meat to a kibble fed dog unless that was a part of a deliberate transition from kibble to raw. If you are switching to a raw diet, then rabbit is an excellent food source. Having said that, I do know that some people mix the two diets quite regularly. But I wouldn't want to advise you on how to do that as it is outside of my experience. Hope that makes sense. Pippa
Re: Switching to raw Yes it does make sense Pippa , I suppose its a case of their digestive tract getting used to one or the other but mixing might be upsetting for it . At the moment, both dogs are doing well on what they have, firm poo , shiny coats , full of beans . I do worry about dogs who dont have access to lots of water when on a dry diet, my Vet told me that he gets cases of renal problems when dogs get dehydrated on a kibble only diet . We have two big stainless bowls of water , one in the kitchen, one in the sitting room , changed every day, but for some unknown reason , the pair of them chose to drink out of the pond waterfall
