[Stevie D]

Wasn't wikipedia!
I still stand by the 15.8% protein not being enough for an active dog. I know lots of folk using BARF and none use tripe regularly.
I'm not surprised that's from a dog food site, reads like an advert; "naturally occuring gastric juices" !!!! we'd all be using it if it was that good!!
I'll leave it at that, hope I haven't offended anyone...
stevie

[lazybee]

Wasn't wikipedia!
I still stand by the 15.8% protein not being enough for an active dog. I know lots of folk using BARF and none use tripe regularly.
I'm not surprised that's from a dog food site, reads like an advert; "naturally occuring gastric juices" !!!! we'd all be using it if it was that good!!
I'll leave it at that, hope I haven't offended anyone...
stevie

http://www.truecarnivores.com/greentripe.shtml Someones misquoting to try to make their point.

[Stevie D]

It was a straight quote from a site, I would in no way misquote just to "make a point", my ego isn't that big.
As I said I'll leave it at that.

[knightquest]

BARF feeders shouldn't feed just tripe! The animal should have a mixture of:- meat, lites (heart, lungs, tripe etc) and bones. The proportions should replicate an animals make up (give or take)

That is to say, 75% meat to 25% bones. The meat can be broken down further to 75% meat (the kind that we would have) and 25% lites.

Personally I wouldn't mix BARF and complete and certainly wouldn't feed tins at all. But that's me.

Some previously spoilt dogs don't know how to eat BARF but tripe and it's distinctive smell usually brings 'em round  

Ian

[faith0504]

stevie D no offence taken, this is a forum so we can all add our own individual experiences and opinions, please dont you be offended, or feel you cant express a view 

[doganjo]

I agree.  I was only going on what I was told about 45 years ago by an old longstanding cocker breeder, and then used the stuff myself with success.  But I didn't use it to exclusion of all else.  Pax, Stevie D?

[Stevie D]

 

[doganjo]

 

[shrekfeet]

a good quality puppy food is your best option. You want a high protein diet that is not bulked out to fill them up. Many dry dog food have bulked ingreedients aimed at making them feel full. You want maximum protein to weight ratio

[Teresa]

Be careful of over doing it on the protein. Alot of itchy dogs with problem skin are fed to much. Usually when someone feeds a complete meal and then adds "extras" to it like more meat to make it appetising. A friend who breeds wire fox terriers get weight on her dogs with weetabix, goats milk and honey in the morning and a bonio at bedtime.

[loosey]

Our Mastiff has a tendancy to lose weight in the winter. I swear by Arden Grange for putting on weight. He also get "fatty treats" a couple fo times a week, whether that's meat juices poured on his food, those "sausage" treats that smell vile or pedigree jumbone's ... they're all just pretty much fat and it makes a big difference to his weight (aswell as wearing a little coat which my OH hates!!).

I presume they've been fully checked over and it's now just a case of feeding them up? Sorry if that seems obvious, just thought to check!

[horsemadmummy]

i am no expert but have nursed rescued weimaraners and gsds who were truly thin when we got them.  A puppy milk (like you give to newborn pups) worked for the gsd it was mixed as per instructions and then fed along side his normal food.  For the weimaraner we fed a 'junior' food with his normal rations so he was 1/3 junior and 2/3 normal.  This worked a treat for him.

Hope this helps

[SallyintNorth]

Be careful of over doing it on the protein. Alot of itchy dogs with problem skin are fed to much.

I have had this problem, itchy skin and split pads on too high a protein diet.  My vet told me that excess protein will knock the dog's kidneys out earlier in its life than if you are moderate in the amount of protein you feed.  Plus, and this is a bit of a hobby-horse of mine, I am absolutely convinced that, in dogs prone to being a bit hyper, excess protein in feed comes out in hyper behaviour. 

Excess means more than needed - so that, for instance, a working collie that works on the hill needs a lot more protein than the identical collie that's a pet or does light work on a small holding.

I long ago discovered that any collie-type pet dog would do best on tinned Chappie and a plain terrier meal  - probably around 11-12% protein overall.  I maybe should add that all my collie-type pet dogs lived to 15 and over, and were fit and active up until near to the end. 

I now have working collies - but still keep the protein in check in adults doing only light work.

The bee in my bonnet is the marketing of working feeds at pet owners - people are made to feel that they are not looking after their collie properly unless they feed a 'working dog' ration, but in fact you cannot give a pet dog enough exercise to use up all the energy and protein in such a ration.  Sorry to rant - as I say, it's a bit of a hobby horse.

[horsemadmummy]

you also need to check what source the protein is from ie meat rather than brown rice for example and also if omega that it is from fish rather than plants - had that from dog behaviourist we always feed about 18% meat protein with 7% fish oils in our dried food.  and the vet prescribed the 'juniour' food ration in with adult rations to build up a poor condition dog.  Would add our feed bill is massive as we feed an expensive brand (recommended by vet and behaviourist) but it is worth it in the end