Madhatter  Offline
early riser
Joined: Aug 06, 2011
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Posts: 4
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243 LabPounds
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No.of Labs: 1
Lab Names: Ells
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 Posted: Sat Aug 06, 2011 2:50 pm Post subject: |
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I never worm during pregnancy... just before mating and obviously when the pups are wormed but not during. I've heard too many scare stories, but as you say everyone's different and I'm sure neither way is perfect but as long as the pups are worm free at the end of it then I'm happy.
The Nature Diet looks good although I must say it looks very similar to the BARF other than the cooked bit when you look at the ingredients.
Feeding as I do is really easy and lots of places sell puppy whole mince... other than that I grab some veg and zap it in the processor with some oil for a few seconds and it's done. Some extra fruit and veg for treats isn't hard either, you can even freeze the veg weekly. Chicken wings can be bought cheaply at the same place as the mince or any supermarket, I pay £1 for 1.5kgs. BARF puppy mince is a good quality meat too...the one I buy is the best beef (which is fit for human consumption) and it costs just 40p for 500gm, the whole chicken mince is 30p per 500gm, veggies/fruits are often on sale in supermarkets or greengrocers. Defrost overnight add some veggies and it's sorted. I, atm, add some olive oil to the veg but will replace this with fish oil for the omega 3.
The puppies adore the food and relish their veg treats... what better than have a puppy who is happy to eat chunks of veg or a slice of melon rather than asking for much naughtier treats? Especially when you consider how greedy labs can be lol. As I said their tummies are A1 already after just 2 meals.
I understand what you're saying, but if one of your pups new owners decided to change it's diet and upset it's stomach would you be to blame for feeding the food you do? Of course not, so as long as my new owners know what I feed them and I help by giving them some frozen mince to be getting on with just as I would a bag of kibble for the springer's, if I also find them a supplier near them if they want me to, as well as a huge feeding addition to my usual new puppy crib sheets then surely I've done what I can... if they won't even consider BARF then they won't be buying one of my puppies.
I think I'll get a few packs of these and try the pups on them for a few days and see how they go, if they are ok I'll offer this as an alternative if they go the BARF route but want to change in the future.
Thanks for the idea  x
Are there no experienced BARF'er breeders on this site? 
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_Jules_  Offline
And the Girls
Joined: Sep 27, 2005
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Posts: 33574
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242523 LabPounds
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No.of Labs: 2
Lab Names: Mojo, Pickle, Pood And Twoee
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Location: Essex
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| Posted: Sat Aug 06, 2011 3:53 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: | | if they won't even consider BARF then they won't be buying one of my puppies. |
Good for you  .
I have two dogs who were weaned onto a BARF diet and I think it's a fantastic way to raise youngsters. Not only is it so much more natural for their digestive systems, but it seems to harden up their tums for future food changes. None of this having to gradually introduce new foods over 7-10 days, like you get with purely kibble fed pups.
I was more than happy to continue feeding raw, in fact I feed all my dogs raw now, although I did introduce kibble just so I had something to fall back on for holidays, weekends away etc, where I perhaps couldn't take so much meat with me. I gave mine Wainwrights Salmon and Potato (PAH brand) and this never upset them at all. I tend to use it still for things like training treats or for playing "hunt the kibble" round the house and garden. I know quite a few people have dogs with sensitive tums who do well on Wainwrights S&P, so it might be worth getting a small bag to try. I know Skinners isn't a bad brand, but it does contain rather a lot of fillers, especially Beet Pulp, which can go straight through some dogs.
I'd recommend the Grow your Pups with Bones book, although don't get too hung up on every little thing. I find BARF diets sort of balance themselves out over a period of time, rather than it being balanced every day.
Put it this way, if your pups are doing so well on it, then you must be doing something right, eh  .
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Jules, Mojo, Pickle, Pood and Twoee.
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-Sas- Offline
puppy walker
Joined: Oct 27, 2009
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Posts: 743
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3921 LabPounds
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No.of Labs: 2
Lab Names: Oliver and Stanley and Bentley our Maltese X
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Location: East Sussex
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| Posted: Sat Aug 06, 2011 4:15 pm Post subject: |
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All my dogs are fed raw meat and bones - 6 year old and 14 week Labrador and a year old Maltese X who weighs 3.7 kg!
They all get the same but different amounts: whole chicken mince, whole rabbit mince, minced heart, beef and lamb, tripe, chicken wings and carcasses, lamb ribs, a mixture of liver, kidney and lung minced (only get this every 7 to 10 days as too much vitamin A is not good), raw eggs including the shell, plain yoghurt, salmon oil, all sorts of pulped fruit, nuts and veg, kelp, alfalfa, garlic etc. etc.
They do need a good variety of everything to ensure they get all the natural vitamins and minerals they need.
I keep a supply of Nature Diet in the cupboard in case I forget to take stuff out of the freezer.  It's also good for taking on holiday.
Your puppies sound as though they are getting enough calcium but any future owner would have to introduce more variety.
No, it's not difficult feeding this diet but you do need to know what you are doing and have a good knowledge of food and its mineral and vitamin content to ensure a healthy puppy and adult.
Your prospective owners are going to have to do some research as to how much to feed, which will increase and decrease as the puppy gets older, and what proportions of meat, bone, offal and veg to feed. They will also need a good reliable supplier and a lot of freezer space.
Anyway, good luck with whatever you decide.
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Sas and the Three Muskateers
Stanley, Bentley and Oliver
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Diana Offline
Dual Personality
Joined: May 30, 2006
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Posts: 19447
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128372 LabPounds
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No.of Labs: 5+
Lab Names: Mallie, Fish, Tom, Bondy, Mia, Ruby & Otter!
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Location: West Sussex
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| Posted: Sat Aug 06, 2011 5:17 pm Post subject: |
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" Are there no experienced BARF'er breeders on this site? "
Its not a common way to raise pups. Change them too maybe once home if you are of a certain mindset as an owner, but not as a breeder to rear them on.
The ingredients of the natures Menu (or there is a similar one called Nature Diet) that Jill suggested, yes indeed similar to raw feeding, but truthfully, FAR more convenient for buyers. Conveniece = the liklihood they will continue with it. = Continuity for the pup. = Just a bit less stress in the first stressful weeks on leaving the litter.
BUt with one week to go you don't really have a lot of choice as you are right, swapping now will upset them anyway, but to continue. but as a breeder, I agree with those who suggested Nature diet. A good half way house between BARF feeding and convenience for buyers.
If its any help I have 'dicsovered' the joys of Wainwrights salmon and Potato puppy food from Pets at Home (whom i previously loathed with a passion but now am delighting in this food). A runny tum young girl here who was fed Skinners in the nest and I think didn't really ever take to it, switched to it overnight and perfectly. Just as an idea to try.
Di
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The boys!
Read: Wylanbriar Dog Blog on the website: Updated! 1st February 12´! |
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