Feeding raw dog food, is it for you?
Keith Fallon | Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Raw Dog Food is it for you?(and your dog)
Feeding raw dog food has suddenly become the latest thing in the dog world. Concerns over commercial dog food safety and feeding a processed diet has all contrubuted to people looking again at feeding a raw diet to the their dogs.
But is it easy to switch to raw food and is it suitable for everyone?
I have personally experimented with raw feeding over the last 8 years and more recently have anecdotal evidence from various clients of the pros and cons.
My experiences and clients anecdotal evidence:-
Pros
Reduced stool size and quantity
Health benefits including healthy glossy coat, more energy, generally more settled behaviour. Curing of fussy eating problems, weight loss.
Can be cheaper than commercial food
Cons
Handling of raw food is not for everyone.
Lack of storage for frozen dog meat
Awkward when travelling or staying away with the dog
Confusion over whether you are feeding the correct quantities and the right variety of raw foods
Try the half and half approach
Myself and several clients have settled on a half and half approach for now which seems to suit both dogs and owners. I feed a mixture of raw and dry commercial food. My dogs get a portion of raw dog meat (from my own Fallon's meat pouches) mixed with one of my dried kibble recipes.
The results have been:
Still get reduced stools than when just on commercial
Drinking a lot less water than when purely on dry food
More energy
Elimination of grass eating (always when on processed foods)
More settled behaviour
No fussy eating problems
Becoming used to both foods I can switch them easily between one or the other
I am reassured that they are getting all the necessary vitamins and minerals from the commercial food and their teeth are still being cleaned by eating the kibble
Keith Fallon - Cotswold Pet Services
Sick dog Harley beats colitis
Keith Fallon | Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Cotswolds dog Harley a collie/lab cross is now fit and well at the age of 12 thanks to a dog food designed for gundogs.
Harley, who lives with his owner Abi in Bourton-on-the-water has suffered with bouts of colitis (severe diarrhoea) for most of his life and was pretty miserable.
“He had frequent spells in hospital on a drip and I feared I might lose him to this condition”, said Abi
Their local vet tried Harley on a variety of treatments and diets but nothing seemed to offer a long term solution.
Recommended by a friend, Abi finally stumbled across a dried food formulated for gundogs which worked almost straight away.
The gluten free food from UK based manufacturer Squires & Beaumont cleared up Harley’s colitis, improved his overall condition and put life back into the old dog.
Harley’s owner was surprised at the results from a food aimed at hardworking gundogs consisting of only 5 ingredients.
Abi owes her thanks to her friend who recommended this food, a type she would never have normally considered being formulated for gundogs.
The knowledge used from the gundog world in making this food has changed Harley’s life and his owner’s too.
Squires & Beaumont Complete Gundog Food
Keith Fallon | Friday, August 06, 2010
Squires & Beaumont - The Complete Gundog food
What sets Squires & Beaumont apart from other brands is the use of simple straight forward recipes tested over a long period of time using fresh natural ingredients.
The recipes are made to a "closed formula" which means that the ingredients cannot be changed and are exactly as stated on the bags.
There are three adult recipes with different protein levels depending on whether the dog is working hard or resting. Two recipes are chicken based, the 23% Regular and the 26% Regular Plus. The Regular Plus is also Gluten free being made with Barley.
The third recipe, Keepers Choice is a good maintenance diet containing a mixture of meats and cereals with a Protein level of 19%
There is also a Puppy recipe formulated to give the best start in life, again this is chicken based and runs out at 29% Protein
Squires & Beaumont list the dog breeds that this food is partcilularly suited to but in my experience it will be suitable for alomost all breeds. Most breeds are,afterall originally bred to work...
I have had some people complaining that the food has upset their dogs tums when first introduced and the answer is always the same. The food has a higher meat content than most brands and often people will "overfeed" as if they were using their old brand. If you see any signs of tummy upsets simply reduce the amount of food being offered and the problem will resolve itself.
Of course this is a positive for buyers as they wil have to feed less!
Squires have also just launched their new breeder programme in association with Cotswold Pet Services.
For more information on the entire range, where to buy and the breeder programme please go to either:
www.squires-beaumont.co.uk or www.cotswoldpetservices.co.uk
