Combined feeding

[Caro Perry]

I feed Dudley Canagan It does not seem to be a well known food but it does well on the Dog Food Review sites. Even as a puppy he was sick on Royal Canin and Harringtons. We tried James Wellbeloved but he just refused to eat it. I think at that stage he worried about being sick. Someone suggested I try Canagan small bite and he is fine on it. He does have occasional added chicken as a treat.

Harri has Canagan too

 

[Aurora Pets]

Do you know of any scientific studies that show this to actually be the case? It's difficult to work out which claims have a hard scientific backing and which have been proposed as a possibility in the past and have become accepted as facts.

There is a current unbiased scientific study undertaking the benefits of raw feeding the results of that wont be for sometime, most of the previous studies discounting the benefits of raw have been carried out by kibble manufacturers. That said it really depends on your own views, what you read and what you are prepared to risk or not as the case maybe when you feed your dog. Basic science on this one points to starch in kibble, even grain free kibble has high amounts of starch which changes the pH level of the acid in a dog's stomach (increases) making it less suitable for digesting bone, undigested food particles can cause issues and more likely for pathogenic bacteria to survive On a dog fed with only raw food the pH level is 2 or below. Even Danielle Steemkamp agrees with the pH level required for proper function but again no conclusive evidence so no confirmed scientific data but not one that we would like to take the risk on.

We have seen far more stomach issues with dog's fed on a mixed diet than that of raw alone.

 

[Aurora Pets]

@Aurora Pets
I have also mixed raw and kibble together in the same meal, with no ill effects.
This is not what Zero was asking though.

Perfect! again it is really a personal preference how anyone feeds their dogs as long as both owner and dog are happy/healthy I'm not sure much more than that matters, but I do believe that was the question and title of the thread

"Would I be able to give fresh as a treat rather than as a sole diet. Is there benefit to this?"

 

[Teddy560]

Stupid question, don't your dogs get raw chicken all over the floor? I've got a feeling that Teddy would be delighted if I fed him a raw diet but I'd have to bleach the floor after every meal and treat. I'd much prefer to combine feed him. I try not to buy into any scientific claims unless they are from a peer-reviewed, published scientific study. This seems to be a topic that generates a lot of debate so will see what I can dig up in research. Not sure if dog digestive systems are comparable with human digestive systems? But I, currently, don't really buy into this all or nothing approach either. Interesting topic. Does anyone have any links/ experience of feeding home-cooked meals? Ted gets the cooked vegetables/ meat (no cooked bones) and loves them.

 

[JudyN]

Stupid question, don't your dogs get raw chicken all over the floor? I've got a feeling that Teddy would be delighted if I fed him a raw diet but I'd have to bleach the floor after every meal and treat.

Some people give their dog bones on a towel and teach them that's the place to eat it, by moving the bone back there when the dog moves it. Jasper's not the sort of dog you want to interfere with when he has a bone so he has his in the garden. If it's raining hard he has it in the conservatory and the floor gets a quick wipe with a damp cloth after... if I remember Truth be said, my hygiene levels aren't the highest but none of us have had any raw-food-related illnesses.

 

[Nanny71]

Harri has Canagan too

I am pleased that someone actually feeds Canagan. Most people have never heard of it

 

[Caro Perry]

Stupid question, don't your dogs get raw chicken all over the floor? I've got a feeling that Teddy would be delighted if I fed him a raw diet but I'd have to bleach the floor after every meal and treat. I'd much prefer to combine feed him. I try not to buy into any scientific claims unless they are from a peer-reviewed, published scientific study. This seems to be a topic that generates a lot of debate so will see what I can dig up in research. Not sure if dog digestive systems are comparable with human digestive systems? But I, currently, don't really buy into this all or nothing approach either. Interesting topic. Does anyone have any links/ experience of feeding home-cooked meals? Ted gets the cooked vegetables/ meat (no cooked bones) and loves them.

Dogs are omnivores and scavengers - designed to eat what they can find whether it's raw meat or that discarded sandwich. I think we are getting a bit precious about them. Having not owned a dog for many years due to circumstances I was simply amazed at the consumer industry that has sprung up and the amount of dubious advice taken as gospel on the internet.

I did try the towel thing with Harri but now he just gets his chicken wings in the garden. Raw eggs too.

 

[Teddy560]

Dogs are omnivores and scavengers - designed to eat what they can find whether it's raw meat or that discarded sandwich. I think we are getting a bit precious about them. Having not owned a dog for many years due to circumstances I was simply amazed at the consumer industry that has sprung up and the amount of dubious advice taken as gospel on the internet.

I did try the towel thing with Harri but now he just gets his chicken wings in the garden. Raw eggs too.

I agree! My dog's favourite thing to eat is horse poo! Also, right from the beginning of their domestication, thousands of years ago, their diet would have been whatever they could get! Rodents and birds that they hunted, dead animals and leftovers from the kitchen. I do think maybe working dogs, pups, those with complicated dietary requirements and pregnant bitches need more careful nutrition. But is it really harmful for the average pet dog to eat a mid-range food? There's probably better nutrition in dry food than what they received in the not so distant past. I do think it must be nice for them to have a bit of variation in their diet too. I also think some of the obsession of foods could be a trend thing, like the current trend for veganism in humans?! Still interesting to hear everyone's opinions though. I think I'm going to start feeding Ted some raw snacks in the garden. With a 3 and 1 year old who's hygiene standards are already questionable, there is no way I'm throwing raw chicken on floors into the mix. Cleaning is a military operation here

 

[Flobo]

I've met some dogs in my time, that suffer with sensitive tums and they have all thrived on Chappie with no more tum probs.. The feeding debate is an interesting one for sure and the ranges of food out there now is staggering. My thing with feeding a kibble only diet is partly I feel it must be boring(but maybe that's me putting a human slant on it?) and there has also been cases of under weight pups and dogs due to people following the feeding 'guidelines' exactly, ( even though the word 'guideline' is used!), instead of using common sense.. Whatever you feed your dog, if they are happy and healthy on it, great, even if it is the lowly tin of Chappie!

 

[Zero]

Wow. I didn't realise this thread would start up such a debate!

Well, personally for me I think I'm going to keep my old boy on his Harringtons and through him the odd chicken leg (I'm thinking he's a larger dog so might chew a leg rather than swallow a whole wing!). As for my pup, I'll be swapping her to Harringtons too, I'll see how she goes on that... If she tolerates it fab, if not no biggie I'll find something to suit her. And again I'll treat her to a few chicken wings in the week!

I happen to think similar to a few of you, dogs are natural scavengers - the times I've had to pull my old boy away from bins and chips thrown of the floor! I'm sure a bit of chicken will be just fine

Thank you all for your opinions and advice

P.s...will a chicken leg be ok for my old boy, he's medium dog 25kg roughly. I don't want it to get stuck in his throat

 

[JoanneF]

will a chicken leg be ok for my old boy, he's medium dog 25kg roughly. I don't want it to get stuck

If he is likely to bolt it, a quarter or even half carcass would be better because he would have to crunch it up. I sometimes hold a chicken wing for my dog who is only 8 kilos so I can supervise him better.

 

[JudyN]

Be aware that a lot of dogs find raw food & bones so high value that they may have a tendency to guard them even when they've never guarded anything before. There's no need to worry if this happens - there's training you can do to address it (ask if needed), or it can be easily managed - but just be careful when holding something for your dog to gnaw, or when feeding two dogs close to each other.

As for guidelines - my dog gets through around 900g of meat a day plus a lot of (mostly healthy) treats and leftovers, whereas my friend's lurcher who is just a few kilos lighter, only needs 400g or less per day. I'm jealous of their dogfood bills!

 

[Aurora Pets]

Be aware that a lot of dogs find raw food & bones so high value that they may have a tendency to guard them even when they've never guarded anything before. There's no need to worry if this happens - there's training you can do to address it (ask if needed), or it can be easily managed - but just be careful when holding something for your dog to gnaw, or when feeding two dogs close to each other.

As for guidelines - my dog gets through around 900g of meat a day plus a lot of (mostly healthy) treats and leftovers, whereas my friend's lurcher who is just a few kilos lighter, only needs 400g or less per day. I'm jealous of their dogfood bills!

Definitely agree with this, Yianni above anything else will only go into guard mode over a bone, he is such a cool, calm and collected dog at any other time and quite staggering how high value it is for him.

 

[Lennor Magill]

I feed both my greys on cooked and raw with no ill effects. They have nature diet in the mornings chicken wings, whole turkey necks or a piece of lamb ribs as an afternoon snack and Wolf Tucker raw for their evening meal
They are almost two with beautiful soft glossy coats. They are never ill and are full of energy
Recently Morgan has been having an allergic reaction with sticky eyes. I thought it might be chicken but he has since been diagnosed with hay fever. We had some test done by a vet who specialise in greyhounds. He's allergic to tree pollen .
My dogs are happy and healthy on their mixed diet with beautiful teeth I've never had to clean because of the raw lamb ribs and other raw bony snack they have every few days.
My vet is very happy with them .
I do however recommend you go slowly when changing or introducing a new diet.

 

[Lennor Magill]

Wow. I didn't realise this thread would start up such a debate!

Well, personally for me I think I'm going to keep my old boy on his Harringtons and through him the odd chicken leg (I'm thinking he's a larger dog so might chew a leg rather than swallow a whole wing!). As for my pup, I'll be swapping her to Harringtons too, I'll see how she goes on that... If she tolerates it fab, if not no biggie I'll find something to suit her. And again I'll treat her to a few chicken wings in the week!

I happen to think similar to a few of you, dogs are natural scavengers - the times I've had to pull my old boy away from bins and chips thrown of the floor! I'm sure a bit of chicken will be just fine

Thank you all for your opinions and advice

P.s...will a chicken leg be ok for my old boy, he's medium dog 25kg roughly. I don't want it to get stuck in his throat

Chicken legs(the drumstick ) have a thick bone and also a long thin needle like bone. It's this bone that is a problem for all dogs. It can cause a perforation if swolled whole.
It's better to give raw wings or chicken backs. Better to be safe than sorry.

 

[excuseme]

I have fed and used raw for 35 to 40 years, I have never encountered this little fine bone as a problem, neither have I heard of it causing a problem before!
Maybe you are reffering to the cooked variety

 

[Lennor Magill]

I do agree with most posts here, dogs will eat anything. The trick is to find what you dogs like and is happy and healthy on. There's no hard and fast rules to feeding. Don't let so called scientific debate sway you as each dog's eating preference is different . It's up to us to find the happy medium for feeding.
Apart from a raw and cooked diet my greys are very fond of fruit and bits of cucumber celery pasley stalks and even lettuce. They will scavenge on walks if i let them.
So yes dogs will do well on a variety of foods (they are not chickens so keep away from grain) as long as they are happy loved and well cared for .

 

[Lennor Magill]

I have fed and used raw for 35 to 40 years, I have never encountered this little fine bone as a problem, neither have I heard of it causing a problem before!
Maybe you are reffering to the cooked variety

 

[Lennor Magill]

Just
Hi, I am referring to uncooked raw chicken legs.l have seen what happened to a friends dog a few years ago. Such a bone puncturing his throat while chomping on a raw chicken leg.
Admittedly it was or might have been a freak accident, but I'll never forget the howl of pain nor the veterinary bill for the surgery treatment for poor Freddie. I might add that he recovered well and was no worse for wear and back to his lovely exuberant self.

 

[excuseme]

There are probably a lot more dogs that choke on the dry kibble and other strange objects than a possible one off one of these little bones. But thank you for bringing it to us raw feeders attention.