Ready to switch to raw, a few questions first.

[picklevega]

Hi,
I understand the raw diet. I am ready to switch, my hubby is not so cool with it but I always get what I want. I just have to make it easy for "his" meals.
right now the dogs sleep from midnight till noon. Going out for a pee around 5:30am. they eat lunch around 1pm and dinner anywhere from 6-9pm.
when i switch them to raw are these two meal times enough? or should I slip in a snack when they get up for their pee around 5:30am?
My hubby gives them lunch so I plan for this to be an easy no bone meal, at least until he is more relaxed with the raw diet. They will get the bones with dinner when they are with me.
Final question, Should I wait until the long weekend in May to switch them? Im concerned that they may get the poops etc. when they first switch. I wouldn't want this to happen with just my hubby home when he is not "into" raw feeding. This way i will be home with them most of the time. I could start Thursday night, by Tuesday when i go back to work they will be well on their way.

 

[Jan]

I wouldn't bother waiting until May 24th. I would just start a day before your regular weekend. Some dogs get the runs, but it is not all that common. A snack at 5am wouldn't be a bad idea. It is a long time to go from 6pm to 1pm without food, though if that is what they are used too, it might be okay, though raw food gets digested much more quickly. It could be the straw that broke the camels back and they could start getting a rumbly tummy and throwing up bile in the morning. I think I would start giving them a snack.

 

[Rocky Inberg]

A question on top of this...

I see at the pet store they have a freezer full of what they consider raw food in the form of patties. They figure these patties are just as good as feeding raw meat from the butcher.

Are they pulling my leg here?

 

[Jan]

A question on top of this...

I see at the pet store they have a freezer full of what they consider raw food in the form of patties. They figure these patties are just as good as feeding raw meat from the butcher.

Are they pulling my leg here?

Nutritionally they are probably just as good, but you don't get the teeth cleaning that you get from them chewing up bones. In reality, they are really not as good and they are much more expensive.

 

[picklevega]

yet another question.....food stealing??

I haven't looked at the frozen raw food but i do know they sell it at our local pet store.
I have no intention of buying it anyhow.
I figure that it i just as easy for me to make my own, Just like people burger patties. I will make them, freeze them and pull out what I need every night for the next day. Same as the "bony' suppers, I will freeze portion sized packets so that it is quick and convenient.

I was wondering if anyone has had issues with their dogs stealing food and bugging for food. I know that they need 2-3% of their body weight in meat. because they are used to eating 2 cups of kibble twice a day, mostly filler and other useless crap, will they fell like they are not full, at least until their tummy "shrinks". because they will need less food for better nutrition??

 

[Jan]

I was wondering if anyone has had issues with their dogs stealing food and bugging for food. I know that they need 2-3% of their body weight in meat. because they are used to eating 2 cups of kibble twice a day, mostly filler and other useless crap, will they fell like they are not full, at least until their tummy "shrinks". because they will need less food for better nutrition??

Never had a problem. I think if anything they are more satisfied with their food as it takes them longer to eat it. Their brain has time to register that the food has arrived in the stomach. With kibble they eat it so quickly that they may be still looking for more thinking that they are still hungry.