Question by Ashley: Raw diet eating problems?
I just switched my dogs to a raw food diet today. I need to say this about my dogs. One weighs 75 lbs, the other weighs 28 lbs. The bigger dog is a male and eats anything. He usually vacuums the floor for crumbs all the time. When I used to feed him table scraps, he would eat whatever I handed him. The smaller one is VERY picky. She won’t eat table scraps usually, unless its a piece of bacon or something. She won’t eat cheese, popcorn, chips, or anything. The big one will eat everything. So when I decide to switch to a raw food diet, I figured I would have trouble with the little one. I thought she may eat the meat, but I knew she would never eat the bones.
This week the menu is chicken legs. I got the appropriate weight and put the legs in their bowls. All they did was stare at them. So, I cut up the meat into smaller chunks. The little one tore into it when I put it back down. She even ate the bones. The big one just stared at it. I hand fed him a few chunks to show him it was okay to eat. He ate two chunks, and just sniffed the rest. Nothing I could do would get him to eat it. I finally partially cooked the bits that didn’t have bones in them in the microwave. He ate them then, but he left the bones and a couple chunks of skin. When I was sure he wouldn’t eat anymore, the small one cleaned up after him. She even ate his leftover bones.

I thought he would have loved raw food. They both have skin problems and ear infections, and I think its probably from food allergies. We kept trying different foods, but when I found out how much better a raw diet was for their health, and also that it was cheaper than buying the dog food, I decided to make the switch. Tomorrow, if he doesn’t eat his food, I’m going to stick it in the fridge until that night. If he still refuses, I’ll save it till the next day. I’m sure once he gets hungry enough he’ll eat it. Has anyone else had any problems like this when they switched to raw food? If so, what did you do?

I’m willing to continue cutting up the meat for them, but I’m not going to cook the food for him anymore. It’s called a raw diet for a reason.

Best answer:

Answer by Eon
It takes them a little bit of time to get used to raw foods. Some take to is super fast, for others it goes slower. You should join the Raw Meaty Bones yahoo group on here. They are very helpful.

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Question by Dethklok: dog itching problems?
I have a husky cross who is itching like mad, when I pet him his skin will twitch and he will start trying to scratch with his rear paw. Now I’ve checked for fleas (my other dog doesn’t have any and both are on flea meds) I was thinking maybe a skin condition since he has had allergies in the past but I cant see anything.

He is also shedding alot and is producing alot of dander.

Best answer:

Answer by bella4ever
just to make sure take him to the vet.

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Question by ?Pretty? ?Kitty?: Is the hypoallergenic dog issue going to cause problems?
According to my research on the subject, there are no dogs or cats which can be classified as “guaranteed hypoallergenic”. The chemicals which produce allergens are present in saliva, skin cells, and urine. In order for a pet to be hypoallergenic, it would have to be skinless, spitless, and not produce urine which is obviously not possible. Some animals produce more of the chemical which makes them more likely to cause an allergic reaction in certain people but this is not breed specific. Animals of all breeds can or cannot be a producer of chemicals which provoke allergies. That said, do you think the issue of finding a hypoallergenic dog for our President-elect and his his family is passing misinformation to the general public? Will there be a devastating rise in shelters acquiring these animals after their owner experiences allergic reactions to the pet he was assured was “safe” for him? Correct me if my information is wrong but if it’s not, then the general public and the animals involved are being dealt a great disservice by the experts who are pushing certain breeds (or mixes) of pets whom they deem allergen-free. Input?
I’m referring to breeds being labeled as hypoallergenic. Individual animals of any breed or mix can or cannot produce allergen inducing chemicals. Some breeds can be less prone to provoke but it’s dog-specific, not breed-specific.
Who are these experts who are guiding the dog search? I would think they have the top experts working on it.
They should be stressing that while one dog of any breed may provoke allergies, another may not. I’m just worried if they pick a certain dog, everyone will assume every dog of that breed will be “allergen free” resulting in lots of dissatisfied owners and homeless dogs. They should be much clearer on that.

Best answer:

Answer by Kiy N
Idk but my friend is asthmatic an shes allergic to dogs but her daughter has been crying she wanted a dog since forever. So she got her a dog that doesnt shed hair. She got a full bred poodle. Its ugly as hell but hes good and he doesnt cause her to break otu or her trhoat to swell up. She has NO allrgic reactions to him and he even sleeps in her bed. I think it will be fine but ask an expert

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Question by amommy2two: HELP! adopting a Labradoodle with Skin Problems?
Hello – I am getting ready to adopt a beautiful female labradoodle but her current owner says she thinks she has skin problems. Sister just turned a year old and has her owner sent me an email saying:
“She does not look the way she did in that bushy picture. Her skin is red on her legs and her tummy. She needs to be taken to the vet to see what kind of skin problem she has. I am trying to be as upfront with you as possible. I can not afford to take her to the vet myself or I would.”
The current owner also mentioned that Sister also has a spot above her tail the she has been biting at. ANY idea as to what this could be??? She mention that this skin problem started when she moved so is some type of allergy possible?
I am willing to take care of a problem that is manageable but I don’t want to get a dog that my children have to watch suffer. PLEASE give me any advise as soon as possible as I am suppose to drive 3 hours to purchase her on Saturday. Thank yo so much!

Best answer:

Answer by justbeingher
What the hell is a labradoodle?

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Question by Goldenlover: I am looking for help regarding my Golden’s skin problem’s?
I awoke this a.m. with resolve to find a cure to my 2 Golden’s woes. I worked in the vet business for 17 years so had never heard much about diet except from the pizza bearing reps from Science Diet. I have 2 goldens who were absolutely gorgeous when they moved her from the Sierra Nevada mountains to Orlando florida 31/2 years ago. It has since been a constant series of allergy, staph infections, Cephelexin, horrible prednisone , bleading sjkin, horrible stench, and misery and guilt for my dogs and me. I have tried to sell my home-(no market now)- different foods, Fish oils etc… I looked around this morning determined to find a holistic vet. Instead I came across a Lab breeder who I spoke to about raw foods. I am now determined to get them started. Does anybody know who to talk to about amounts to feed etc…?

Best answer:

Answer by dasher
shouldnt this be in the animal section ?

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