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Post by ripley on Aug 13, 2004 13:56:16 GMT -5
OK, I thought that a lot of hardcore NILIF had solved Ripley's picky eating problems, but although he IS eating, he's not eating enough to keep any of those calories on him, since he burns it all off in ONE trip outside. I supplement with Nutri-Cal on the days that he is going to be working hard, but I actually think he might burn that off as well.
Now, I run my hand over him and I can feel every bone in his body. I've had him checked over by the vet TWICE about this, and each time he's just said that Ripley is a finicky eater and that he'll eat when he's hungry or when he likes what's being served. Mmkay, then he's hungry once a day for about 10 pieces of kibble.
I don't think he likes his kibble, but he hasn't liked the last 5 kibbles we tried either.. Any suggestions for a food that could help his weight problem?
Or, is this the push I need to start raw feeding?
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Post by amyjo on Aug 13, 2004 14:34:55 GMT -5
It is the push you need to start rawfeeding. For a performance dog like Ripley - you will be so pleased with the combo of rawfeeding and exercise...it makes beautiful supple muscles - that you can't believe.
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Post by ripley on Aug 13, 2004 14:39:01 GMT -5
Well, I'm certain he'll eat raw meat.
Amyjo, for such a small dog, what is a good thing to start him out on?
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Post by amyjo on Aug 13, 2004 14:46:35 GMT -5
Well...lot's of people like to feed chicken wings and necks to the little ones but I think the bone to meat ratio in those pieces is a bit too high.
I would be tempted to start him on chicken quarters and just let him work on it for a couple days in a row.
The other thing - is if you wanna do wings and necks make sure to also give him a side order of meat too...
Feed him 2 - 3 % body weight . For weight gain, fatty meats are good once you are sure he can handle 'em.
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Post by ripley on Aug 13, 2004 14:51:49 GMT -5
I have some frozen chicken quarters... I'll start thawing one.. Should I supplement at all or feed any other foods for the first week or two? I've read a lot about it and yet I'm still a total newbie to this...
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Post by fireworksinjuly on Aug 13, 2004 14:53:17 GMT -5
god I wanna feed Kino a raw diet.... but being a broke college student its a little expensive... and 2 we cant feed one of our dogs raw and not the other two- they get jelouse easy, and what the other two eat is NOT my decision at all.
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Post by amyjo on Aug 13, 2004 15:02:07 GMT -5
RG - there are lots of schools of thought. Personally I would just feed the chicken for a couple weeks - let you and Ripley get used to the new way of doing things. I only supplement fish body oil (for the omega 3's) and I started that about 4 - 5 months into raw. No need to start anything else for now. Once you are sure he can handle it - he is going to get all his vitamins and minerals from various meats,eggs and organs....but take your time to get there and the trip will be far more pleasant (less puking and projectile pooping ).
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Post by amyjo on Aug 13, 2004 15:05:12 GMT -5
BTW...how much does Ripley weigh?
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Post by ripley on Aug 13, 2004 15:07:53 GMT -5
Ripley weighs about 5 pounds right now and he *should* weigh close to 6. Um, this probably sounds dumb, but do you just throw the meat on the floor? or does the dog eat from a bowl?
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Post by amyjo on Aug 13, 2004 15:11:23 GMT -5
Nope it's not dumb... I feed outside but you can train him to eat on a towell or keep him in one spot on the floor using body blocks or by taking the bone and depositing it back on the "spot" if he tries to remove it.
You can also feed him in the bath tub and then squirt it out when he is done. I have done this with my cat and it works great.
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Post by ripley on Aug 13, 2004 15:13:35 GMT -5
Fireworks-- I know what you mean about jealousy.. It'll be interesting feeding Ripley raw meat while Buster looks questioningly at his kibble.. But, with Buster being 12, I really don't want to go through the puking/pooping stage. He can't eat even a BITE of meat from the table without puking it up later, and.. ugh. No. Ripley's puke is the size of a quarter, Buster's is the size of a dinner plate. Edit: Hmm, outside sounds like the best place for my dog to eat raw meat.. But then again, we have a bit of a bee problem. ( ) so that might not work.. I'll figure something out. Can you buy chicken necks & chicken backs at the supermarket or do you have to go through a butcher?
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Post by Willow on Aug 13, 2004 17:09:59 GMT -5
A butcher might be cheaper, but a Super Walmart should have them. I won't pay more than $.79cents a lb for any meat/poultry I buy, but again, it may be more expensive where you live.
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Post by sibemom on Aug 14, 2004 7:25:18 GMT -5
Yep I would try raw for your little guy Blade is the pickiest eater on the planet. When it comes to kibble I am lucky if he eats a cup a day He dove right into the raw and even with that he is picky and the only protein source that he will eat is chicken and the occasional pig foot. I have tried them all and he will only eat chicken and ground turkey. Like Loey I will not pay more than 79 cents a pound for any meat source so I guess he is doing me favor by only eating those that cost less ;D. Chicken leg quarters are what I feed him, and he does great with those. For Ripley one of those should give him plenty of meat/bone ratio and last him a couple of days. I have never seen a dog yet that turned their nose up to raw. Willow would be on a raw diet but she has trouble digesting it for right now and I don't feel like going the route of adding the digestive aids. I am waiting untill she gets older to try again.
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Post by ripley on Aug 14, 2004 14:20:33 GMT -5
I should find a butcher around here.... I think I'll try to give him a chicken leg today (if my parents don't have a cow) Do I just let him eat as much as he wants or do I take it away after he's eaten what I think is enough?(Hehe, dumb dumb dumb questions )
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Post by amyjo on Aug 14, 2004 15:47:29 GMT -5
Since he is underweight I would allow him to self regulate.
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