Any suggestions on feeding a raw dog food diet?

I'm thinking of adopting a great dane from a rescue facility and have been hearing about the raw dog food diet. I'm really interested in feeding any future dogs this type of diet. I have done some online research and know the basics but I'm wanting to talk to people who actually own danes and feed a raw diet. I'm mostly curious as to how much more expensive this would be than feeding top quality commercial food (say, $30 for a 40lb bag), the quantitiy usually fed (I know it depends on the dog's age, amount of exercise, ect) frequency (once or twice daily) and the different types of food fed. I'd appreciate any feedback on this! Thanks!Any suggestions on feeding a raw dog food diet?
there are a TON of raw or Barf diet web sites out there. here are just 2 of them

http://barfworld.com/



http://presagirls.tripod.com/id14.html



there are a lot of yahoo groups out there too.

just do a search for BARF or Raw feeding for dogs.



I have been using it for about 3 yrs now and LOVE it.

I find it can be cheaper then the HIGH end dog foods too.



there are a lot of repackaged raw foods now too. That is how I got started then started to make my own.

http://www.katberard.com/hol_bonesandfoo鈥?/a>

the above site has lots of info and also has links to prepackaged foods too.....



also a good starter book is

Natural nutrition for dogs and cats

Auther Kymythy r Schultze, c.c.n., a,h,i,



READ UP ON IT AND SEE WHAT YOU THINK



I get 40 lbs of chicken backs for $13.00. 40 lbs last me about 1 month. I am feeding 3 dogs.

I also make my own meat and veggie mix and that cost about $20.00 a month depending on the types of meat I put in it.

so I am spening about 33.00 or so a month. but this is 3 dogs

2 dogs are about 30 pounds and I have a 70 pound dog too.



just found 2 yahoo groups. You will have to join but they may have more answers.

http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/Great鈥?/a>

http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/Whole鈥?/a>Any suggestions on feeding a raw dog food diet?
I do a raw diet but have just started. You might want to check out the Dogster.com Raw Diet forum. I learned SO much from them!
I offer the following article link, in case you haven't seen it, as additional information to add to your research. Hope it helps somehow. http://www.avma.org/onlnews/javma/jan05/鈥?/a>Any suggestions on feeding a raw dog food diet?
My dogs eat a raw meat diet and I save tons of money. :D

I get free meat from the butchers at the two grocery stores in my town. They call them "scraps". I get a huge box full everyday.



You should ask the butchers at each of the stores in your city if they give out "meat scraps". I'm sure you'll find 2 or even 4 that would do that, then pick the one thats closer to where you live, or gives the most.



If your not comfortable with getting stuff for free, you can offer to pay them $10.00 for a box.



My dogs are really healthy on this diet, yours will be too. :)
Danes do really well on a raw prey model diet... My dogs are on the raw prey model, and when I take them to the vet for check ups or anywhere.... everyone compliments me on how healthy/beautiful my dogs are!





www.rawmeatybones.com

www.rawfed.com/myths

www.rawlearning.com

www.rawfeddogs.net



And, if you want those kinds of questions answered- here is a really good group to join (if you want to do prey model (80% meat, 10% bones, and 10% organs)- it is without all the hassle regarding veggies that Barf is a part of...



http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/rawfe鈥?/a>



I feed a raw prey model diet to 3 dogs (1-60 lbs, 1-55 lbs, and 1-38lbs)... I spend about $75-100 a month on their food.... This is down from the 300 or so I was spending on high quality kibble. So it is definitely cheaper (espeically if you have an extra freezer to keep their food in... you can buy lots when there are sales!)



Good luck.Any suggestions on feeding a raw dog food diet?
My name is Jan Shultis - I am a Nutritionist and Instructor in Naturopathic Care for People and Animals, and specialize in canine care.



A raw diet is the healthiest, and also more economical, particularly with large breeds. Wild dogs typically require about 50-55% of the diet from hight-quality proteins and up to 30% from appropriate fats; the remainder is made up of vegetables (what is the first part of a kill a dog eats? The stomach! A dog goes for the warm, slightly cooked plants in its prey's stomach before any of the meats or fatty tissues; it has been my experience that dogs love, and respond well to, vegetables). A typical processed food rings in at about 18% protein and 5% fat.... a far cry from ideal. I do incorporate organic dog food into my dog's diets (it is the difference between me cooking for them once a week and every other day, and with a human family, active duty Navy career, small business, and training as a national-level powerlifter, I just don't have time!). Please be aware, however, that the machines used to process kibble require about 50% water simply to function, so no matter how high-quality the kibble is, it will not provide complete nutrition. For both people and animals, with the food supply being what it is, appropriate and specific supplementation (I use herbs and therapuetic-grade essential oils) is vital. The first signs of nutritional deficiency appear in the skin, and often manifest themselves as allergies (about 85% of canine allergy cases can be cleared up through dietary adjustments). Premature greying of the muzzle is also a sign of nutritional deficiency.



For more information, please feel free to write to me any time at Torque@TorqueEnterprises.com, or call (410) 271-5227. A lecture schedule is also posted at TorqueEnterprises.com
It is not healthy, the dog foods are formulated for all round proper nutrition. Is it raw meat diet, because dogs are mainly meat eaters.

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