Raw Diet for Full Timers

Most prepared raw rations are going to be "mush" as you describe it. You can supplement bones from the grocery store as desired for chewing exercise.

A supplemental freezer might make life a lot more convenient. If you can find a place to put it. I have a five cubic foot chest freezer that I bought when I got my tt. It now lives in the garage but was very useful when we lived in the tt.

Hey Moes,
We are in Nor Cal. Just spent the month of June traveling through your beautiful state.

We have been feeding raw to our pups for almost 20 years, not saying I know it all because I certainly don't, but have managed to pickup an idea or two along the way.

You said you found a supplier but they sell in bulk, what's wrong with defrosting, resizing, and refreezing? My brother has Poms and he makes their meals up from self ground material and freezes them in meal sized balls on a cookie sheet then bags them for individual use.

Check with a local butcher shop/store and see if they won't grind up chicken leg quarters, bone and all, for you. We use them all the time.

On that month long tour of your state we made all the dog meals up ahead of time and froze them, a bit problematic as we have a German Shepherd and a Border Collie, think portable freezer.

Like I said earlier, lot's of effort
but the animals health and vitality
are well worth all the work.
Tinbender

Pawz4me wrote:
How about Nature's Variety Instinct? I believe it's sold in many Petsmarts and Petcos, which should make it relatively easy to buy in smaller quantities while traveling.

Thank you, Pawz. This is new to me. Most of the food I've seen in Petco has been mush nuggets -- no texture or bones, etc. This looks like it might be what I'm looking for. I'll be checking it out.

Tin-bender wrote:
I was in Target Store the other day and saw a freezer case with raw dog/cat food for sale in small quantities. Raw feed is becoming more popular with all the dog food recalls in the last few years and availability is really starting to increase. I even received a flyer the other day from a company that will home deliver cases of frozen food.

You don't say what size animal your feeding so it is a little difficult to offer advice, But, consider a small portable freezer. Use a hand hack saw to cut the frozen packs into smaller portions
to thaw. Check with a local butcher shop and see if they will saw it for you at the end of the day before clean-up. Thaw the larger pack and repackage in smaller portions and refreeze.

Feeding raw takes a lot more effort and planning then just dumping kibble into a bowl. Most people that start it will drop it within the first few months for various reasons but it usually boils down to
"too much trouble"

Good luck
Tinbender

Thanx, TB. I forgot the picture I use on most sites doesn't show up on this one -- it's a pic of my little Shih Tzu, Moe. He's 12 lbs. I had seen some food at Target, but it looked like frozen mush, no color and no bones -- important for teeth and digestion. I'll check further into the frozen; btw what part of the country are ya in?

I was in Target Store the other day and saw a freezer case with raw dog/cat food for sale in small quantities. Raw feed is becoming more popular with all the dog food recalls in the last few years and availability is really starting to increase. I even received a flyer the other day from a company that will home deliver cases of frozen food.

You don't say what size animal your feeding so it is a little difficult to offer advice, But, consider a small portable freezer. Use a hand hack saw to cut the frozen packs into smaller portions
to thaw. Check with a local butcher shop and see if they will saw it for you at the end of the day before clean-up. Thaw the larger pack and repackage in smaller portions and refreeze.

Feeding raw takes a lot more effort and planning then just dumping kibble into a bowl. Most people that start it will drop it within the first few months for various reasons but it usually boils down to
"too much trouble"

Good luck
Tinbender

How about Nature's Variety Instinct? I believe it's sold in many Petsmarts and Petcos, which should make it relatively easy to buy in smaller quantities while traveling.