Swapping to a raw diet Feb 2011
We decided to switch the westies over to a raw diet about five months ago. This is some video of them eating their meaty bones. Since changing their diet we have seen some very positive changes in their health.
The first noticeable benefit to them has been the change in their dental health. Their teeth are now white with no tartar build up. This has improved gradually over the five months. Their skin and coats are in a much better condition, their coats especially look so much shinier and glossier.
Their digestion has also improved in that none of them have had diarrhoea or tummy upsets since being on RMB's (Raw Meaty Bones).
From time to time they would all have bouts of bringing up yellow bile or bloody darrhoea which I am now sure was down to their diet as since feeding raw, this has all stopped.
The first noticeable benefit to them has been the change in their dental health. Their teeth are now white with no tartar build up. This has improved gradually over the five months. Their skin and coats are in a much better condition, their coats especially look so much shinier and glossier.
Their digestion has also improved in that none of them have had diarrhoea or tummy upsets since being on RMB's (Raw Meaty Bones).
From time to time they would all have bouts of bringing up yellow bile or bloody darrhoea which I am now sure was down to their diet as since feeding raw, this has all stopped.
When I first thought about raw feeding I took lots of time to research my idea and found a wealth of information about the' Whats, Whys and Hows' and it all seemed to make sense. I read testimonials, other peoples experiences and also watched some videos of other dogs eating their RMB;s. I decided that it was the way I wanted to go.
Initially when I swapped to raw feeding I was just going to trial Star and see how she got on but after two days of the other three sitting looking on enviously at her as she ate her meal, I 'Bit the Bullet; and offered them all some raw meat. Since that day there has been no turning back. All the cooked food that I had portioned and frozen was given away and so was any other processed food or treats that I had in the cupboard.
Over the next few weeks they were fed various chicken parts, wings, thighs, drumsticks along with some breast and also some pureed vegetables. They also had minced chicken and I made a pureed mixture of fruit/vegetables, raw egg plus shell and honey in the blender and froze this into meal size portions. They weren't always keen on the veggies so eventually after doing some more research, I decided to leave them out completely.
Very gradually over the last three months, I have introduced them to different types of meat and bones, such as pork, lamb, rabbit, turkey and beef also some organ meat. Raw liver is known to sometimes upset dogs that are new to RMB's so at the moment I tend to stick with heart or kidney once a week. I will try liver in the future as I know it contains some of the essential ingredients they need to balance out their nutrition. I have yet to offer them raw fish so I do also add some fish oil regularly which balances out their Omegas. I will also try giving them whole raw eggs in the future too.
We are in the early days and still learning but already the benefits are there to see.
Initially when I swapped to raw feeding I was just going to trial Star and see how she got on but after two days of the other three sitting looking on enviously at her as she ate her meal, I 'Bit the Bullet; and offered them all some raw meat. Since that day there has been no turning back. All the cooked food that I had portioned and frozen was given away and so was any other processed food or treats that I had in the cupboard.
Over the next few weeks they were fed various chicken parts, wings, thighs, drumsticks along with some breast and also some pureed vegetables. They also had minced chicken and I made a pureed mixture of fruit/vegetables, raw egg plus shell and honey in the blender and froze this into meal size portions. They weren't always keen on the veggies so eventually after doing some more research, I decided to leave them out completely.
Very gradually over the last three months, I have introduced them to different types of meat and bones, such as pork, lamb, rabbit, turkey and beef also some organ meat. Raw liver is known to sometimes upset dogs that are new to RMB's so at the moment I tend to stick with heart or kidney once a week. I will try liver in the future as I know it contains some of the essential ingredients they need to balance out their nutrition. I have yet to offer them raw fish so I do also add some fish oil regularly which balances out their Omegas. I will also try giving them whole raw eggs in the future too.
We are in the early days and still learning but already the benefits are there to see.
If you are thinking of changing your pet over to a raw diet then you may find the following link useful.
www.ukrmb.co.uk
www.ukrmb.co.uk
