People seem to think we are spoiling Ruby where her eating is concerned. I don't think any malice is intended, more a lack of understanding about a raw food diet.
They are always keen to know "what is she on today?" if they are around when she is about to be fed. A general meat answer is usually given as once the protective sleeve is off her minced meat and it is thawed, I don't always know what it is! When she is given something different like chicken necks, sprats or an egg, a similar comment is made.
"Ooh, aren't you spoiled" then usually follows.
I do find it tiresome and explain it all again but it doesn't seem to "go in"!!!
A mixture of meat has to be given as each meat has a different analysis of mineral and vitamin content. Each tube has varying amounts of finely minced bone and different offals included. Each offal give different vitamins and other micro nutrients.
Oily fish gives extra bone and omega 3 and 6. Chicken necks increase her intake of bone which she also needs to be healthy and also help to keep her teeth clean. Dehydrated rolled fish skins do the same.
Eggs give her so many nutrients it isn't true. I haven't yet tried her on a whole egg but she gets the all the inside then the shell is finely ground up and given in with the meat. The shell has numerous benefits and something in it, helps to counteract something in the egg white that isn't quite so helpful (but only if she were to eat huge amounts of it).
Finally fruit and vegetables are given in small quantities, often having been frozen first to break down the cell walls. She adored frozen carrots and broccoli in the recent heatwave. This breakdown of the cell walls helps her digest them better and get anything else she needs from them.
Treats, on the few times she has them, are either cubed vegetables or semi hydrated meat.
None of our food is ever given to her. She is full of beans, dances to her eating place at meal times and her coat is as shiny and soft as can be. So no, I don’t think she is being spoiled. She eats in a different way to a kibble fed dog and beng on a raw food way of eating, is being fed what she actually needs.
Do you buy the raw food already prepared for her or do you make it up yourself? I like the idea of a raw food diet but it seems very complicated, as you say yourself, they need all sorts of things other than just raw meat.
ReplyDeleteReady minced and balanced. Comes in frozen tubes like sausagemeat at Christmas. Necks and fish individually frozen in packs. Simply decant into a plastic box, thaw and ready to go. Anything else she has comes in bags, dehydrated and ready to use. We buy if from here:
Deletehttps://www.nakeddogfood.co.uk/ best price we could find. We use best butchers mince.
She's only spoilt in that you're giving her a perfectly balanced, highly nutritious, completely healthy and free from any additives tasty diet that she clearly loves and thrives on. Infinitely preferable to cheap nasty tinned smelly crap that's hardly any meat but full of cheap fillers and highly suspect colours, flavours, preservatives, chemicals, salt and sugar! I make at least half of Betty's food and often have similar comments, my answer is always that Betty cost us a lot of money, she's a much loved member of our family and I want her to have a long and healthy life - she gets as much love and care go into her food as my husband does.
ReplyDeleteVery true. It does cost more than her kibble diet but way less than most ready prepared trays.
DeleteSounds very healthy and natural. Bound to be good for her.
ReplyDeleteHopefully. She seems a lot happier eating this way as she never knows what she is getting.
DeleteIn South Africa my german shepherd was fed on dirty tripe and mealy pap porridge on the days we had curry I added curry sauce as she absolutely loved it. The vet advised this diet as dried food was full of salt and additives. If I did not watch her she would pinch the cats food which was very fishy.
ReplyDeleteI think they like fish as much as cats if Ruby is anything to go by.
DeleteBetty absolutely loves fish, she has canned tuna or sardines in oil, once or twice a week, small amounts mixed in with her other food.
DeleteRuby is a very lucky dog to be blessed with such caring owners.
ReplyDeleteThankyou. We try.
DeleteTrying to find what is best for our furry friends is the whole point of being a pet owner. You are doing great.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
Thanks.
DeleteRuby is very fortunate. You are wonderful with her.
ReplyDeleteWe are trying hard even if at times, she drives us to distraction!
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