Andisa

Thanks guys - such a cold wet day - you keep the entertainment alive.

I have been feeding a raw diet including the barf for several yrs now and raised my 2 litters of Rottie pups on this diet. The only time I have added some dry was while they are in the major growth period and that is a top up not whole meal - the only dry I feed them is Eagle Pack large breed puppy. I have tried a couple of other products but only the organic. I add a few supps through out the week and they have Ester C daily. Feeding 10% of the body weight is ideal, but each pup is different - feed a little less if you think the pup is getting fat, you don't want a fat puppy. I also feed RMB's daily too. I would also recommend feeding your puppy on goats milk and yogurt for several months if possible. My 8 mth old bitch is still getting it and she loves it. I have a 20 m/o bitch from my 1st litter come back home a couple of mths ago and she went straight back on the goats milk too, it is very good for them. I know a lot of people do not recommend feeding them milk once they are weaned but it is such a valuable food worth giving them especially while the pups are growing. Each to their own, feed them what your happy with. It does say to feed 2 - 4 % for large breed on the box, in the books it says to feed 10 %. I think the old packaging used to say 10%, haven't read the box for a while now so don't know why it is worded the way it is.

Oh Pandii - I have been thinking of you all day today knowing what was to come. Hugs to you and your family. :p Tyson.

Mine all eat bones and will continue to do so - can't think of anything more natural. Chicken wings, necks and frames, Lamb necks, off cuts and flaps, roo tails, brisket bones are the main bones I give them. Even Lizzy - pug, eats and totally enjoys her bones - god help any dog that eyes off her bones and they would never get one from her.. she happily eats chicken wings and necks, and even lamb off cuts. Don't know how she does it sometimes but she has never had any problems at all. She stole a half lamb neck from a Rottie pup once and I thought I would see how far she would go with it - she ate it. Her belly was rock hard for 2 days - no idea how she ate so much but she sure as hell was not going to let the Rottie pups get it back. Seems pretty natural to me.

Mine love it - although I don't give cows milk I do give them goats milk - as for cheese - they have tasty cheese as treats, cottage cheese and yogurt with their meals.

As well as the lamb necks, flaps and off cuts I also feed mine brisket bones. Does a great job at keeping their teeth pearly white. My dogs eat bones daily. I would try them again - just because they were not interested ages ago - does not mean they are not interested now. Don't give them a choice they will eat it.

He should cope pretty good with the cold weather if he has been provided with adequate shelter and extra blankets, if he needs a nice warm coat to help keep him warm then he will not need to be fed twice his requirements to maintain condition. As mentioned above the 27 biscuits is the daily intake and your already feeding other foods. You can feed him half the amount of biscuits and feed him the other foods. Keeping the weight on is one thing but over feeding him will do more harm than good. A friend lost his male Rottweiler reciently to bloat - a client a couple of yrs ago also lost a 2 yo male Rottweiler to bloat. Both kibble fed and not over fed. Bloat is a horrible way to die. Growing up on a farm I only thought that bloat was something that grain fed animals got - never thought about dogs getting it until I realized that the majority of dog food is grain based. To me that is the connection with bloat so I avoid grain in my dogs diets - I raw feed them. Don't know about your dog but my dogs only have to look at lamb bones and get fat so if you want to increase your dogs body condition then I would be feeding lamb bones in what ever form you can get it.

Nope - nothing is done to a routine here, they get fed when ever I get around to it. Makes them appreciate it even more. I only have some sort of routine when we have puppies, the adults have to deal with it. The Rotties are no worries but the pug thinks the world is coming to an end if meals are slightly late, so she has to wait even longer when she carries on. I am a meanie. eta: in summer they are fed early/late as they are fed a raw diet - I avoid feeding during the warmest times of the day.

Warrnambool Prime Petfoods They also sell frozen bunnies for $5.50 which I feed occasionally by the half as something different. Ahhh I know plenty of spots, plus a few spots where you can get feral deer as well. Seen one crossing the road in broad daylight the other day. So quick though, barely realised what it was before it was gone. If you're really lucky might even find a few feral cattle Bugger - just googled them: Prime Petfood Warrnambool 50 French Street, Hamilton, VIC 3300 Bit far out of the way - normally I don't worry about that - but think I need to draw a line here... Anyone going to Hamilton soon??? Well the bunnies over this way are $10 - $12 each I am living on the wrong side of the City.....

Mighty Mix MIGHTY MIX DOG FOOD PRODUCTS Mighty Mix Natural & Wholesome Healthy Food for Healthy Dogs HOME ABOUT PRODUCTS TESTIMONIALS WHERE TO BUY MERCHANDISE EREWHON STATION RELIEF FUND CONTACT Biscuit Range - Large Dog Formula Mighty Mix Large Dog Formula Biscuit INGREDIENTS: wholegrain cereal ● meat & fats (mutton. beef & pork) omega 3, 6 & 9 ● cold pressed flaxseed flour eggs ● green lipped mussels ● kelp ● garlic honey and apple cidar vinegar ● vitamins & minerals Mighty Mix Large Dog Formula is specially formulated to meet AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials) nutrition standards that provide a complete balanced diet for all life stages of your dog. Dry Matter 23% minimum crude protein, maximum fat 13%, Energy value 3.50kcals/gram. PRODUCT RANGE 20kg 10kg 5kg RECOMMENDED RETAIL PRICE 20kg bag $77 10kg bag $45 5kg bag $30 Mighty Mix Large Dog Formula is natural and wholesome with no artificial preservatives or colours. Enhanced with superior quality essential proteins to promote optimum health. Mighty Mix Station Biscuit is a large rectangle biscuit enhanced with extra meats providing excellent protein, energy, vitamins and minerals for the hard working active adult dog. Plus, as a result of the hardened biscuit your dogs teeth are cleaner promoting healthier teeth and fresher breath. No compromise on quality Mighty Mix Dog Food Products undertake extensive product and feeding trials, and insist on the highest standards of quality control. We use only the best natural ingredients to ensure a premium dog food product with the best nutrition and a great taste your dog will love! The health food products in the mighty mix process play an important role in producing necessary energy dogs require to with-stand such gruelling conditions. Christine believes the green lipped mussels help to increase joint mobility and strengthening cartilage while the immune system are boosted by the garlic, apple cider vinegar, honey, kelp, omega 3, 6 and 9 cold pressed flax seed flour, while the whole grain cereal condition the bowel. By using only superior quality essential proteins from eggs and meat including Mutton, beef and pork, which help repair muscle damage. This gives the dogs the ability to recover quickly from their strenuous work. IDEAL for Farm dogs, Show Dogs, Active Pet Dogs, Large Breeds with this advanced nutrition your dog will enjoy AN INCREASE IN ENERGY & VITALITY ● SHINY COAT BRIGHT EYES ● STRONGER TEETH & BONES STRONGER IMMUNE SYSTEM ● SUPERIOR JOINT MOBILITY FEEDING GUIDE - PER DAY Maintenance Diet DOG SIZE BISCUITS 40kg Large 6 25kg Average 4 10kg Small 2 Heavy Workload / Active Dog DOG SIZE BISCUITS 40kg Large 9 25kg Average 6 10kg Small 3 If this is what your talking about then I wouldn't be feeding too much of it. 40kg - 6 biscuits per day...is this the same stuff that you gave 13 in the am and 14 in the pm? if so then I would say - yep - over done it..dog would be bloated.

What is Mighty Mix? If you don't know what it is then don't assume it to be better than what it is. Can't imagine them feeding premium quality in the spca. You have been given great advice above and you and your dog would benefit greatly to consider it. Mine are all raw fed with some Eagle Pack wholistic while growing. Why not google dog food and see for yourself what products are to be avoided, you will be surprised what you learn is in cheap dog foods. There has been a lot of topics on dog food in these forums, if you do a search you will find heaps of advise on feeding dogs in here. Good luck with your dog.

That would be the red meat. Color is to do with what they eat. too much bone and it's white and chalky, too much meat and it is dark. Calling you now. :rolleyes:

Jess where are you? those prices are much better than what I can get in the S/E suburbs.. What to go a hunting - I know a good spot.

The best price I have got so far is 20 kgs of fresh Roo tails at $58. Ok - I think I saw another reply in here from Vic - who was it and where /how much.... I called in to Robbos today - I thought I would get Piper a treat - NOT AT $5.50 EACH At these prices I will go and shoot my own stinking roo - my parents own 1200 acres and they will not shoot any of them, they are grazing on the property by the 100's some days. But he will not shoot them, not even for me. I think I will have to have a nice talk to my nephew, he has been telling me for yrs that he will supply me with roo when I want them, well at these prices I do now.. Anyone know what the culling quota on private property in Victoria is? I have the freezer space here and at my parents. Dad has one at the farm big enough to hold about 5 of them, I wonder if I could go for the weekend and fill it up Would be one way to get me to visit them every 2nd weekend. :rolleyes:

Erny - Ray is the vet I go to, (like a lot of others too for the same reason) he is fantastic. If it is joint related (or anthing else for that matter) he is my first choice. When Pink was in obvious pain and he was great with her. When he felt her she did whimper - not once did he say she was a sook he gave her sympathy and reassured her it was ok. She loves him as does Piper. I think mondays and tuesdays are when he is in the office. Good luck with Mandela - can not believe what you wrote earlier - I had to read it a few times. I too am all for up front, but I think I would have hit the floor with that comment. Have you contacted Carol again, maybe she can come up with something to settle your nerves a bit until you see Bruce. Will call you - I am picking up 20 kgs of fresh roo tails on Tuesday..

I drive over 40 mins just for goats milk and about the same when I went to Lilydale, anything within 30 mins is a bonus even though I have a great butcher in the next suburb that I go to all the time to fill the freezers up. If I want it bad enough I just go and get it. Bonnie Parker - free roo bones - bugger - wish I could get it free....

Ok - this is where I used to get them from - not sure if they still stock them or how much.. Lilydale Pet Foods Phone: (03) 9739 6434 Street: Fact 11/ 478 Maroondah Highway Town/City: Lilydale, VIC jodi1981 - where are you - I think everyone in here would love to get fresh roo tails for that price - I know I would.. What a shame your dogs can't eat them..

Oh - ok, will make a few calls in the morning... Will let you know how I get on - just hope I can still get them in.

Erny - you can get fresh roo tails but they are expensive, I was able to get them in bulk ages ago so will see if I can get them in again, if so would you be interested? Once I contact the supplier and get a price I will let you know. I have seen them sell for a rip off price of $4 + each so will not buy them at that price from the shops. Hopefully I will be able to get other parts too.

I have been given copies of xrays that I have had done going back about 6 - 7 yrs ago and ones done a few weeks ago. I thought it was the done thing....everyone I know who has had them done all get their own copies too.

Oh God Erny - things have to start picking up for Mandela soon, poor boy. Hopefully a bit of rest will be all he needs. Pink just had 6 weeks off - not much fun keeping the young ones quiet.. Good luck and hope he is better soon.

Rip Bliss - run free with your friends. Sorry for your loss...

Erny - every thing is sounding great - what a relief you must be feeling about now.. He will gain the weight that he has lost in no time at all at this rate. I think I will gets some EP Duck for Hamish - he is being a bit difficult with food for his now owner - looks like Mandela has given it his stamp of aproval - definately worth giving it a go for Hamish too.

bump.

Maf101 - Just wondering how you puppy is going - any new photos??