[rawfeeding] Re: Ending the first week in a bit of a slump

--- In rawfeeding@yahoogroups.com, "emugirls" <emugirls@...> wrote:

> I've started with chicken quarters this week (our first week) -
> Maximus won't even consider these whole - I've been wacking them up
> with a cleaver and with a little "doctoring" he's finally eaten ...
> sometimes. I've added raw egg, salmon oil, and even a sprinkling of
> tamari. But he is turning his nose up at dinner probably every
other
> night now.

****Some people would wait the dog out in order to ensure not
creating a picky eater, but if I were you, I'd try another meat.
Some dogs really don't like chicken. Turkey or pork seem like the
best next choices in your case--see below.

I even added some heart tonight - bigger turning up of the
> nose from both of them :-(

****Chicken heart, I assume? Beef or pork heart would probably be
more well-received, but may want to save that for a bit later when
you've gotten things a little more under control. It can cause a bit
of loose stool for new dogs/if fed too much. People talk about
finding it at Wal-Mart and other stores.

> Their water intake has gone WAAAAAY down - it's really hot (high
90's)
> and yet they are not nearly drinking what they did while eating
> K***le. I don't think they are dehydrating - I'm just noticing how
> slow the water bowl is emptying.

****Yep, that's normal. Lots more water in raw.
>
> Chicken just doesn't seem to be working. We don't have a butcher
> around here - anything to do with meat will come from a "box store"
> (Walmart, Winco, Costco, Sam's, Albertson's etc.).
>
> I was looking at the meat dept. tonight - NOTHING was under $2/lb.
> They did have one thing on sale: Pork shoulder blade boston roast -
it
> was one big chunk of meat with bone for .99/lb (about a 4.5lb piece)
> till Friday. Is this something worth getting?

****So there is SOMETHING under $2/lb., no? This would be a great
choice. Most dogs love it and it's economical. If there's a ton of
fat, you might want to trim it a bit at first. Newbie dogs often
can't tolerate as much fat without getting loose stool.

****What about turkey? Is that reasonable in your area? That is an
easy way to get meat and bone (and eventually organs). I'd remove
some skin at first to prevent loose stool. Can you tell I've
experienced being up in the night letting the dog out a lot? :-)

How do I cut that up
> to a right serving size? There appeared to be a big ol'bone in the
> middle of this meat.

****Just feed and remove when the dog has had approximately the
amount you want him to, or cut off a hunk of meat so one serving has
bone and others do not, and alternate bony w/boneless.

I really need to have this "down" by the time he comes home.

****Take a deep breath...We will help you. But it does take time to
figure all this stuff out, and with your dogs not liking chicken,
it's a bit more challenging.
>
> I'm a detailed kind of person - can someone PLEASE give me specifics
> of what cuts of meat to buy (and how to find these affordably) and
> what I can realistically expect to pay for them?

****This all depends on where you live. But since those are chains
many people will know, maybe others can chime in. Sorry, I don't
shop at those particular stores much, so I'm not familiar w/the
prices there.

> Sorry for the whinge - I'm feeling a little down tonight with
everyone
> gone (even though I like the peace & quiet!) and frustrated at my
> furkids not eating this "wonderful" food!

****Hang in there, it will get better! It's only been a few days!

> THanks
> kirsty

****Hope that helps.

****Laurie
>

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