What's for Dinner?

It's official. I have taken the plunge.

I have toyed with the idea of "going raw" for years now actually, but the thought of it was too daunting and a bit scary. What if I don't do it right? What if I make my dogs sick or leave something important out? I read books about the BARF diet as far back as 5 years ago (and remember my friend Chris teasing me about the title of my book), but it never seemed like something I could realistically do. Frankly, given my previous financial situation, it would have been out of the question. However, years later, I have found myself in the position to give it a try, and so I have.

Part of what has given me the confidence to embark on this adventure is the book "Dr. Becker's Real Food for Dogs and Cats." I did some research and decided that I agreed with many of the good doctor's philosophies. I ordered the book, read it cover to cover twice, and have since made it my dog food bible. While Dr. Becker may not be the end all and be all in canine nutrition, the information made sense, and was presented in recipes and formulas that I could follow and reproduce.

The next step was to buy equipment. This included a food scale, freezable plastic containers, labels, a slew of vitamins, supplements, and bone meal, and most importantly: the food processor. Items still on my wishlist include a freezer chest and a grinder. Right now, I am purchasing boneless meats, chopping them into peices small enough to grind in the processor, and then adding bone meal for calcium. The most cost effective means to make food would be to purchase whole chickens and turkeys and then grind them, bone and all. As of now, I am paying more for the boneless meat and for the bone meal supplement, but given that a quality grinder is hundreds of dollars, and will need some place to live in the kitchen, I am compromising for now.

The first time I made a batch of food it took HOURS. Of course I am not used to buying organ meat, and so spent time looking for the ingredients: chicken livers, gizzards, beef heart (which I have yet to find) and beef liver. Also, I had to consider the fat content of the products I was purchasing, since these recipes call for 90-93% lean meat. I also looked for the variety of fruits and vegetables that make up a 25% of the diet, and weighing these items to procure the appropriate amounts. The next time I made a trip to the store, I knew better what I was looking for, where to find it, and how much to buy.

The prep time was a bit daunting, as I started from scratch and made 30lbs of meat (chicken, turkey, and beef mixes, as variety is important), and another 8lbs or so of vegetable/fruit puree. The fruits and veggies have to be chopped into peices small enough to fit in the processor and pureed into a soft enough blend that the dogs' bodies can process. The meat also had to be chopped and grinded and mixed with the organs, which is very messy work. Given that the processor can only handle about 2-2.5 cups at a time, this is a long process. Also, heat and air are enemies to raw meat, so the meat you are handling has to remain cold and the processor and other equipment have to be cleaned periodically during the process. I am also vigilant to the fact that I am dealing with raw poultry, so for the safety of the humans in the house, I bleached everything from the counters to the handles of the fridge and freezer. In the end though, I had a freezer full of 2lb containers of raw meat blends and veggie/fruit purees. We have just enough space to handle about a 10-12 day supply without much room for anything else. Hence the desire for an additional freezer.

At any rate, the dogs had been making the transition to raw food already, via the use of Nature's Variety Instinct Raw, which I was buying in 2lb chubs and feeding for the last month. I had started by mixing their kibble in with this until we transitioned just to the raw. I think this made it much easier for both them and I to make the switch to a homemade diet. I was already in the routine of weighing food and handling raw, but without all the prep.

In addition to the amount of  raw meat and veggies, they also get eggs and sardines added on alernating days for one meal each day. They also receive bone meal, as I mentioned earlier, fatty acid supplements in the form of krill oil capsules, and a mix of vitamins that I grind up in large supplies and keep in a mason jar. They also continue to receive Cosequin chews.

The feeding process has now gone from less than five minutes spent scooping kibble and watching them inhale it, to a fifteen minute process of measuring everything out, mixing it up, and watching them actually chew it for five minutes. As much work as it is, I feel very satisfied that they are receiving the best diet I can give them, and they have suffered no ill effects (ie diarrhea or vomiting). Their coats are looking fabulous, their energy is through the roof, and so far I am happy. It may cost me time and money, but if I can keep them happy and healthy into their teen years, it will be well worth it. Thankfully I have a husband who not only accepts my crazy obsession, but also encourages me in this endeavor. Thank you Buster for letting me fill the freezer with animal guts.

In agility news, we competed in our home AKC trial a couple of weekends ago with Xander Q'ing 5 out of 6 runs, earning his fourth DQ and his MXJ title. Considering we have only done three AKC trials this year, he is doing well! Add that to the Q's he earned from the one day of USDAA we had done the weekend before, and he earned 9 out of 10. I will take a 90% Q rate any day! We will be at our very favorite trial next weekend, Dog-On-It near Orlando, and hopefully chip away at the few remaining Q's we need for his ADCH. Also, there will be a special gamblers run involving Buster, so stay tuned for video.

Finally, I had a nice week of work last week, in which I taught two days of classes. The site we have been working at is "going live" tomorrow, so this week should prove more exciting than usual as well. Then the following week is Thanksgiving. Where did this year go?! It has been a good one, that's for sure. Married, new job, new van, new puppy (who is pricelessly adorable and precociously wonderful, as well as four months old now!). What more could a girl ask for?

Until next time, eat up!