RUSSELL

Russell is a two year old Jack Russell cross Dachsund.  We have had him from a pup and always fed him on leftovers and dog food.  About six months ago we had to take him to the vets with anal gland problems and very runny poo's.  (not very pleasant!)  The vet had to squeeze his anal glands and  then prescribed antibiotics.  Poor Russell did not cope very well with this procedure and became very distressed in the surgery.

The symtoms appeared to go away for a short while, but unfortunately after about a month we had to take him back to the vets with the same problem.  As you can imagine Russell was not very happy about being there again and had to be muzzled for the procedure.  Surprisingly, this sweet little dog turned into a very savage and vicious animal, he was so scared he broke the muzzle!

I talked to a friend of mine who suggested I try feeding Russell raw meat and bones. I was told that this would prevent him from having the anal gland problem and his health would benefit in all kinds of other ways.  This sounded like it was going to be very complicated and perhaps too expensive.  I borrowed a book (Give Your Dog A Bone) and did some research.  I found this very interesting and was willing to give this new way of feeding a try.

I started with a raw chicken wing.  Russell was not at all sure what to do with this at first, but after playing with it for a while he soon devoured it and started looking for more.

I now feed him a variety of raw meat, vegetables, fruit, chicken wings bones and other natural food.

Since he has been on his new raw diet he has not had to go back to the vets.  (THANK GOD!!)
I have noticed his poo's are firm. (and they don't smell!!), and he has lost a bit of weight.

As for the cost:

It was costing me about £40 each time I visited the vets, not to mention the distress it was causing poor Russell.  I think I probably spend about £2 - £3 per week on his food and he is a much happier  and healthier dog, which is more important to me.




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TIA & ROSSI

Tia is a 5 year old Bullmastiff and Rossi is a 4 and a half year old Rottweiler.  Rossi has always been an  excitable and licky sort of dog and has always been fussy about his food .  We have tried all sorts to get him to eat.  When he was about 3 I changed hi to a hypoallergenic diet, which I thought would stop his lickyness.  It was to be the biggest mistake of my life.   After about a week of feeding him this food, he began to be lethargisc and licking constantly.  One evening I thought he wasn't quite himself and that I would take him to the vets if he hadn't improved by the morning.  At about midnight he woke us up.  His left eye was swollen to the size of a tennis ball.  After several expensive midnight visits to the vets we discovered he was allergic to several types of mite and also duck (meat not feathers!!)  He was to be on steroids for the rest of his life, and the vet also recommended he be put on Hills Science Plan.  I was not keen on this as it is very expensive and it is tested on animals.

Tia, the Bullmastiff, was adopted at 18 month old.  She was very underweight, not exercised or socialised and she had very stiff back legs.  She could not walk for more than 20 minutes without being in agony.  She also was very reluctant to eat despite the fact that she was underweight.  She was stressed and anxious and this together with Rossi's issues prompted me to look at alternative types of feeding.

A friend of mine already fed her Whippet a raw diet, and as a behaviourist she suggested I try the same with Tia to help with her behaviour problems.

It was the start of a long journey of learning and taste testing for the dogs!!  I started Tia on it, as I didn't think Rossi would like it, as he was so fussy, but seeing how enthusiastic Tia was and how much her behaviour improved in a short space of time, I had to change Rossi to it too.

Both dogs have always had access to raw bones, so that bit was easy.  I began by juicing veg and mixing it with tripe, or sardines so Rossi would eat it, the gradually as I learned more about the Barf way of feeding, I gave them a starvation day.   After the starvation day I would try them with new meats and this worked well.

Now both dogs are off medication, and both are competing in agility.  Amazing for Tia considering what she was like before.  They are both much calmer and happier dogs.  I will never feed a processed diet again.  The difference in their coats, their fitness, their contentment at home, being able to settle easily is just unbelievable in such a short space of time.  It has been 5 months since I changed them over to a raw diet.

We took them both to the vets recently for their annual check up.  When the vet looked at Tia's teeth he said "how old is she, about 2?!!"  When we said no she is nearly 5 he was amazed.  It just goes to prove what a difference it can make.

TIA

ROSSI


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NIKE & DEXTER

I adopted Nike & Dexter, two 10 year old cross breed terriers from Woodgreen in Godmanchester in March 2008.  They were in the shelter due to a marriage break up and had been there for about 3 months.  I was bowled over by their cheeky ways and their zest for life and just knew they were the dogs for me.

Whilst Nike and Dexter have no health problems and are very much full of life they do have problems that are generally attributed to old age in dogs by vets, although, I think the problems are caused by the diet they have been fed all their lives.

Nike had very poor skin and coat and Dexter had bleeding gums caused by the large amount of tartar and plaque built up over the years.  They both had very brown dis-coloured teeth.

On the first day of them being home with me I started them on a raw natural diet.  I started with a raw meaty bone and watched them with delight as they both grabbed their bones and settled down to chewing them with great enthusiasm.  It was almost like they were waiting for this moment all their life -  at last someone who understands our needs!!!!!

Their first meal was raw meat mixed with raw vegetables mixed with dessicated coconut and garlic powder.  This was all devoured with great enthusiasm and gone in in seconds.

In the time I have had these two terrorists I have seen so many improvements in their health and wellbeing.  Their teeth are becoming cleaner and Dexter has had no problems with his gums bleeding.  Nike's coat is shining and soft and both dogs have gained a little weight.  They may be 10 years old but they would give any youngster a run for their money given half the chance.

I think that this goes someway to prove that it doesn't matter what age the dog you can change to a raw natural diet at any time and help to improve their life.  I just don't know why more people don't do it.


NIKE


DEXTER



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ROSIE & MISHA

I joined the Canine Health Concern list approximately 15 years ago and was advised to buy Professor Billinghurst's book "Give a Dog a Bone" and Tom Lonsdales's book "Raw Meaty Bones" as I wished to learn more about raw feeding.  My then generation of 3 black Labradors suffered dreadfully from impacted anal glands which meant regular visits to the vet to have them expressed.

When I introduced the first raw chicken wing to my dogs I was so scared I stood holding my cell phone ready to call the vet should one of them choke.  My dogs obviously knew more than I did and after the initial surprise of being given raw meat instead of bagged dry dust balls and canned food, they never looked back.

In my case I have found the advantages of feeding a raw diet which includes raw bones: Plaque-free teeth which results in no bad breath and healthy teeth. 
Wonderful glossy coats. 
No dog odour. 
No  Fleas. 
No anal gland problems. 
Dog poops which are not only firm but are only one quarter the size in bulk. 
Dogs with great stamina. 
Cheaper to feed. 
A diet which does not include preservatives, colourants and added oils which are inclined to go rancid.

Sally Brown
Suffolk

The picture shown here is of my second generation of raw fed dogs, Rosie and Misha aged 7 & 2 when taken.

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