[MillieDog]

I've read with great interest all the threads I could find on a Barf diet and Natural Insticts.

Millie has been struggling to enjoy her kibble food, she's ok with it for the few days and then really doesn't seem to enjoy it, eating it out of necessity.

The raw diet seems to make so much sense, so today I phoned up Natural Instincts. Its been said before, but they really were ever so helpful. With the age and weight of Millie they easily calculated how much food she will need & how often. They were so knowledgeble, not just on the raw food required, but about the treats to give, fur care, teeth care and anal glands. They said I can phone back at any time for advice and to check in to make sure Millie is gaining weight correctly, as she is still a puppy.

The food will arrive tomorrow and although frozen, will be left on the doorstep if necessary and will keep frozen in their special packaging.

I feel really confident about swapping over and am looking forward to seeing Millie enjoy her food. I hope it works as this will be the third time I've changed her food.

 

[Dylansmum]

I'm sure it will work out well for you and millie. They are always helpful and knowledgeable - that's why I'm comfortable with recommending them. Let us know how you get on.

 

[Mogdog]

Hi Julie, I'll be interested to hear if Millie enjoys NI more than her usual food. Maisie is not a great eater - goes up to her bowl takes a sniff then wanders off. I've changed 2 or 3 times over the past couple of years but haven't found anything she really wants to eat.

The only thing that helped was having another dog to stay who wolfed down her food, and amazingly, Maisie copied. But the other dog went home and Maisie is back to indifference.

I've been reading the Barf threads with interest. Look forward to hearing how it goes. Maybe I will give them a call too.

 

[embee]

Flo was a reluctant eater as well and only ate her kibble out of necessity. She thoroughly enjoys her NI, hope all goes well with the switch over.

 

[MillieDog]

Thanks Helen, you have been a mine of inspiration and information.

Sue, I'll keep you posted. I ran it past my husband and even he was impressed with how straight forward it all seemed. He had to look after Millie this weekend and he was concerned about her indifference to her food.

 

[kendal]

just found a vidio on at a natural instinkct factory/shop

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IgN73raIUQs

 

[flounder_1]

Julie - I'll be interested to hear about and inspect Millie's poos to see if they really are odourless. As we've discussed I've not been keen on the idea of wet food and as Lolly seems to be gaining loads of weight and enjoying her kibble not too worried about changing but the more solid, less frequent and odourless poos is a desirable plus point for it!

 

[Sarette]

I hope she adapts to it well and loves it! Please keep us updated, I am very interested in this subject xx

 

[MichelleE]

I'm on the verge of placing an order so will be watching this thread with interest - my Poppy is exactly the same with her kibble (Royal Canin), but she does seem to be doing well on it, so I don't know

 

[kendal]

lol i think this forum is almost compleatly raw converted or going that wy anyway lol

 

[curt3007]

George is definitely going onto Natural Instinct when we get him. Only decision is do we do it gradually or straight away? Love the video , also what about bones when do I feed them as a pup

 

[embee]

George is definitely going onto Natural Instinct when we get him. Only decision is do we do it gradually or straight away? Love the video , also what about bones when do I feed them as a pup

Not sure you would do it gradually if he is being fed kibble as you would be mixing raw and grain based kibble which gets digested in different ways at a different rate which could cause stomach problems. Keep him on the breeders food for a week until he settles then switch.

 

[Dylansmum]

lol i think this forum is almost compleatly raw converted or going that wy anyway lol

We'll end up with cockapoos being the healthiest and longest-lived breed in the world!

 

[sharplesfamily]

lol i think this forum is almost compleatly raw converted or going that wy anyway lol

Well you guys have totally convinced us - we'll definitely be feeding our new pup Orijen and NI without question

 

[Jedicrazy]

I switched Obi to Orijen and he's not that bothered about it so I'm desperate to switch to NI too but I need to sort the freezer situation out first. Will watch with interest to hear about the poo!

 

[Jukee Doodles]

Well this morning I was out poo-picking the mum's paddock and noted again that several of them were selecting blades of grass to eat - so as I had naturally upped their overall raw carcass feed I went and had a look in the fridge and larder.

I found:

4 x large broccoli heads
1 whole white cabbage
6 x carrots
2 x raw eggs
15 x hard boiled eggs
1/4 slab of mature cheddar cheese
one cooked chicken leg (which I took all the meat off and binned the bones )
8 x Cox Apples

I gently steamed the veg and apples and whisked everything together and served warm :

.........and they loved it !!!........a JD BARF'ette snack.


The point here is that IF anyone wants to go the pure BARF route (other than NI and/or Orijen) - then you are able to adjust the mix - and I will openly admit I'm a sucker for Tesco's "reduced for quick sale" shelves at around 6:30pm daily - and our dogs get lovely surprises depending on what I can pick-up !!!!!!!..............You should have seen the looks I got when I once filled the trolley up with about 20 bags of parsnips; 20 bags of carrots; 10 cauliflowers; a box of broccoli; a box of apples; a tray of "greens" and 10 packs of heart and liver - the whole lot came in at around £5 !!! I felt so happy that I even went and splashed out on 60 eggs too !..........it was a veritable banquet that evening !!.......................................................luckily there were no naked flames out at about 6am the following morning as I cut my way through the "smog" to let the girls out into the paddock !!!!!!!!

Stephen xx

PS: Please note that anyone going the Orijen kibble route for their pups (as we do for all of ours - plus each pup leaves with a 400g sample in the "Puppy Pack") - then it is advisable to make sure you change from "Puppy" to the "Adult" version at the advised age/size.
I believe that the ingredients are specifically changed to suit the age/ size of your dog.

 

[DONNA]

just found a vidio on at a natural instinkct factory/shop

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IgN73raIUQs

OMG this video made me laugh,loved the music choice ha ha

 

[DONNA]

Well this morning I was out poo-picking the mum's paddock and noted again that several of them were selecting blades of grass to eat - so as I had naturally upped their overall raw carcass feed I went and had a look in the fridge and larder.

I found:

4 x large broccoli heads
1 whole white cabbage
6 x carrots
2 x raw eggs
15 x hard boiled eggs
1/4 slab of mature cheddar cheese
one cooked chicken leg (which I took all the meat off and binned the bones )
8 x Cox Apples

I gently steamed the veg and apples and whisked everything together and served warm :

.........and they loved it !!!........a JD BARF'ette snack.


The point here is that IF anyone wants to go the pure BARF route (other than NI and/or Orijen) - then you are able to adjust the mix - and I will openly admit I'm a sucker for Tesco's "reduced for quick sale" shelves at around 6:30pm daily - and our dogs get lovely surprises depending on what I can pick-up !!!!!!!..............You should have seen the looks I got when I once filled the trolley up with about 20 bags of parsnips; 20 bags of carrots; 10 cauliflowers; a box of broccoli; a box of apples; a tray of "greens" and 10 packs of heart and liver - the whole lot came in at around £5 !!! I felt so happy that I even went and splashed out on 60 eggs too !..........it was a veritable banquet that evening !!.......................................................luckily there were no naked flames out at about 6am the following morning as I cut my way through the "smog" to let the girls out into the paddock !!!!!!!!

Stephen xx

PS: Please note that anyone going the Orijen kibble route for their pups (as we do for all of ours - plus each pup leaves with a 400g sample in the "Puppy Pack") - then it is advisable to make sure you change from "Puppy" to the "Adult" version at the advised age/size.
I believe that the ingredients are specifically changed to suit the age/ size of your dog.

Love this picture ,and the fact one of the dogs is searching for seconds in the bucket ha ha

 

[gemma27]

Hi. We definitely going to keep our new arrival off the grain and transfer from Orijen to NI at appropriate time.
Also had some great news from our vet that our existing dog, Jess who we nearly lost 6 months ago due to acute pancreatitis, her latest bloods are great and looksike the pancreatitis is under control. Best news I've had in a long time. So our vet has spoken to NI and checked out the NI levels for fat protein and she's happy for Jess to go over to it as well.
NI are going to give us a programme to transfer her and she'll have to have a mix of chicken and tripe to keep down the fat content.

Jess' existing vet prescribed food runs out soon so will be going to their Camberley shop to get stocked up in the next couple of weeks.

I'm pleased as don't like idea of a cooked grain based food for one dog and a NI barf for the other. It's also nice to think puppy will never have grains.

 

[Dylansmum]

That's great Gemma. Sounds like you've found a good vet there to take the trouble to do their research and to be open to new ideas. I'm sure that both dogs will do great on NI. let us know how they get on.