I'm going to give my stab at your questions, even though I am not a 100% raw feeder. I have two GSD's, so I would simply go broke trying to do it!
My dogs are completely grain-free, however - they eat Orijen grain-free kibble as the bulk of their diet, but I supplement with raw bones.
1. What is the difference between be feeding him actual raw vs. cooked meats?
Cooking meats kills a lot of the enzymes that are found naturally in raw meat - these enzymes are all beneficial to carnivores and help perform various functions. There's nothing wrong with feeding almost all cooked meats (I do!) but supplementing with raw recreation bones or even fish oil supplements is a great idea.
2. What types of meats/poultry are acceptable or are they all fair game?
Nearly every meat/poultry is fair game, as long as it is fresh and hasn't been prepared for human consumption (as in, seasoned, etc.). However, some meats are much richer than others (pork in particular is very rich!) and can cause gastrointestinal upsets, so new meats should be introduced slowly. Chicken, turkey, beef, lamb, fish, and bison make up the majority of the raw-feeder's meat choices because these are easily-available meats that don't tend to cause stomach upsets.
3. Can I give him fish? If so, what kind?
This is a very debated topic. Fish is a great food source for dogs - but the question is whether you should cook it first. Many fish carry parasites that can be passed on to dogs that eat it raw - lake whitefish is generally considered safe. Salmon is a fantastic food source but needs to be cooked first, as dogs can get "salmon poisoning" from a parasite that lives in salmon - cooking the salmon kills this parasite. We supplement our dogs' kibble with Wellness' 95% Salmon canned food - the fatty acids are great for their skin and coat.
4. What types of bones can I give as a treat?
Raw beef marrow bones are most often used as a "recreation" bone. I keep mine frozen and give them to my dogs right out of the freezer - they last longer and they make less of a mess with them. Bison marrow bones are also often used, along with ostrich if you have access to them. Pet stores sell them cut into specific lengths for different sizes of dogs, but the butcher at my grocery store is always very willing to cut them for me if they have them in stock. Note that you should take the bones away from the dog once they have gotten all the marrow out/removed all the meat and cartilidge - after that point, they start really chewing on the bone and are in danger of breaking some teeth.
5. Why can't I give him cooked bones?
Cooked poultry bones will splinter and can seriously injure your dog. Cooked beef/bison marrow bones are perfectly fine to give your dog - they will not splinter. However, I don't really see the point of putting all the effort into cooking something, just to get rid of all the nutrition that they get out of the raw bone.
I'm honestly grossed out by giving him raw bones & I'm thinking of letting him eat them out on the deck because of potential bacterial contamination. Do you guys wash their paws when they're done?
I know, I know, I'm a germaphobe but I can't help it. As always, thank you for your help!
In the summer I give my dogs their bones on the deck, but in the winter I just toss them to them indoors. The frozen bones don't really get "gross" because the dogs have to work them to thaw them out and get anything out. I honestly don't worry too much about contamination with beef marrow bones. I do get the occaisional tiny spot of blood on the carpet when I feed raw marrow bones indoors, but I just spray the area really well with Nature's Miracle cleaning solution and it takes the blood right out of the carpet and kills anything left in the carpet. Raw poultry is another story, however. If I'm feeding raw poultry then I put the bones on a big plastic cutting board that I use only for feeding raw bones - I can then put that in the dishwasher, and I clean the area around it really well with a vinegar/water solution.
I am totally not a germaphobe, though. My attitude will likely change after my baby is born this summer, and once he starts crawling around on the floor!
Good luck with raw feeding! I entirely believe that it is the best diet for most dogs! However, if you decide that you can't stomach the raw meat, there are several types of grain-free kibble that are nearly as good as raw, when supplemented with raw recreational bones and/or fish oils. The dogs do really love the raw food, though!
, so this is the next best option & he absolutely LOVES it. I'm also trying to get him grain free.
I never knew that and I always thought they couldn't have chicken bones. Even some of the web sites I've read say to take the bones away when the dogs get to them, so that is what was confusing me.
This dog is so spoiled.
