This whole feeding thing is a minefield.

[Oberon]

Is there anything to stop me feeding raw in the morning and then kibble throughout the day as his training food? It seems like opinion is mixed?

Absolutely no problem doing this.

It does take time for the digestive system to adapt to new food, so aiming for a transition over a 10 day to 2 week period is safest. With Mas it’s possible you went a little quick, maybe. I’d start again with 9/10 old food and 1/10 new food and gradually shift the ratios so it’s 10/10 new food after 9-10 days.

Runny poo can also be caused by too large a quantity, so it might take a little bit of tweaking to get that right.

 

[Leanne]

Thanks for the advice!!!! He’s not putting on a massive amount of weight.. his litter mate we met on Saturday was 15.9kg and Mas is only 12.6... I will say that the littermate was more chunky than I would be comfortable with though (but then I’m bordering on phobic about hip dysplasia) Mas is lean but you can’t see his ribs at all.

 

[Leanne]

So I will work on transitioning him onto tails properly (with a 60% meat content I’m happy with them) and then once that’s settled halve that and do half raw.

I swear I put less effort into feeding my kids

 

[Emily]

I swear I put less effort into feeding my kids

This. 100% true.

I freak out more when Ella is sick too. I think it's because you have a better idea of what's right/normal for your human child (like a healthy diet or how they feel/how serious their cold is etc.) but for your fur child, it's all foreign.

 

[MaccieD]

Thanks for the advice!!!! He’s not putting on a massive amount of weight.. his litter mate we met on Saturday was 15.9kg and Mas is only 12.6... I will say that the littermate was more chunky than I would be comfortable with though (but then I’m bordering on phobic about hip dysplasia) Mas is lean but you can’t see his ribs at all.

Steady weight gain is the ideal - well it is for me ??. Juno gained weight at around 500g a week. I used to pop her in the vets every 4 weeks to be weighed but used to predict her weight before hand and was only 100g or so out at any time.

 

[Leanne]

Just back from the pet shop! Had a lovely chat with the lady and have purchased a weeks worth of Nutriment Puppy rated 5.0 out of 5! All About Dog Food (was only £1.20 per 500g as opposed to the advertised price) explained what I wanted (re kibble) and have a plan to feed the raw in the evenings (digests slower so might even help him sleep a bit longer!) and then half his Purina pro kibble into get us through the school day! Feel much more comfortable with this idea

 

[edzbird]

Just a cautious thought - double check it's OK to raw feed if Maslow's going to be in school. @Charlie's Hattie is not allowed raw at all as a PAT dog - NHS rules I think.

 

[Charlie]

@Charlie's Hattie is not allowed raw at all as a PAT dog - NHS rules I think.

We had an email from PAT telling us that no dog on a raw diet would be allowed to visit any NHS or educational establishments. They attached links about raw food but to my mind it is more about hygiene of the owner preparing it not the raw food itself. But of course there were no links to that. They have lost PAT dogs due to this new ruling. Hattie used to have some raw without any issues for over 2 years. I am far more likely to pick up a bug going into the Hospital and Hospice than Hattie causing any health issues to patients. PAT dogs go into ICU, childrens wards etc. all round the country, it's getting out of hand. They will be asking us to bath our dogs before a visit next, then I am out. It's a shame. x

 

[Leanne]

I think that’s PAT policy as opposed to NHS guidelines...

Valid point although I’m fairly sure it’s ok if it’s a prepackaged food, I know I can’t give butchers bones etc but I’m ok to do frozen bones. Something about the regulation process.

 

[Jacqui-S]

Do you have to sign something?
How would they know @Charlie @Leanne ?
I wonder if there is any evidence of harm, or just a fear of something maybe happening.

 

[Leanne]

I don’t think it’s enforceable personally. Frankly dogs can pick up anything on a walk etc.

From what I can tell it’s more to do with the risk assessment than it is anything else... as long as good hygiene is followed (alcohol gel etc) it’s safe... particularly if it’s previously frozen.

 

[Charlie]

Do you have to sign something?
How would they know @Charlie @Leanne ?
I wonder if there is any evidence of harm, or just a fear of something maybe happening.

Nothing had to be signed so I don't know how they would know.

I found the email, here are the links:

https://petsastherapy.org/devsite2017/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/RAW-Meat-Update-OKd-by-AB-SW.pdf
https://petsastherapy.org/devsite2017/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Vaccination-policy-OKd-by-AB-SW.pdf
https://petsastherapy.org/devsite2017/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Homeopathy-Update-OKd-by-AB-SW.pdf

x

 

[Jacqui-S]

Out and almost a dead phone but quote some references here, same as your link above I see Helen.
Might be worth seeing what their evidence is. Doesn't chamge their rules though.
Pets As Therapy | FAQs

 

[Charlie]

it’s safe... particularly if it’s previously frozen.

It's not safe if it's been frozen according to the PAT link.

 

[Charlie]

I think PAT are dealing with the twitchy NHS and Schools they have to play ball. It's a shame as we had an email stating that a number of volunteers were less than happy with the new guidelines but they are not changing them so I assume they have lost these dogs. To me the benefits far outweigh this issue which has been scientifically proven. Hattie eats all kinds of dead rotting animals on walks what are they going to do about that? Also in the Hospice we visit patients dogs are welcome, what if they are raw fed are they going to deny a dying persons wish to be with their dog. Again, not thought out very well at all by the "Managers" that simply don't have a clue what's going happening where it counts x

 

[Leanne]

Well just an update really.

After the dodgy tummy episodes and suddenly being very scratchy... I took Mas off of the Tails food (I think maybe it was just too rich?) and out him back on the Purina - immediate affect and poos went back to normal.

So yesterday evening I introduced the raw food - been agreed that it’s fine to use (luckily my head uses it for his dogs so is aware of the benefits etc) as Long as I follow the guidelines we set.

He’s having Purina in the mornings and throughout the day and then half the recommended daily amount of raw after his evening walk. Whilst I know it’s probably not polite he had SUCH a lovely poo this morning. Literally perfect consistency and no issues at all so far. He also didn’t wake up till 6 this morning!! Whoop.

 

[SwampDonkey]

Oh don't be polite nice healthy poo is a thing of awe and wonder?

 

[Plum's mum]

On this forum it's impolite if you don't mention your dog's poo once in a while no matter what the consistency!

 

[Leanne]

Just an update really! The change in Mas since changing his food has been astonishing! He SLEEPS. Every night. No waking up at 5, no howling.
He’s also much more settled during the day, I mean he’s still a puppy but the biting has stopped again, he’s not chewing things anywhere near as much as he was... *whispers* he’s actually being really really very well behaved.

He’s 18 weeks on Friday. I’m assuming I’m just going to get used to this and then adolescence hits and it all goes to shit ?