Im starting to feed a raw diet,and as I only have a liquidiser,have a problem feeding raw veg-you need quite a lot of liquid before the veg get smashed up enough.Would cooked veg be better than no veg?Or have I got to get a food processer or juicer?And,does anyone feed kefir?Its supposed to be better than yoghurt,Ive just ordered a starter to make my own.

If you've got quite a few dogs I'd invest in a blender.  My Mum gave me her old Philips one from the 70's, and it's better than any of the modern ones I've had that just seem to burn out quickly!  Cheers Mum, it saves me such a lot of time in comparison to my other one. 

If it's only for a couple of dogs, you could grate it instead, or steam it. 

Not heard of kefir at all, I only give mine yoghurt and/or cottage cheese occasionally, when it goes out of date and even I won't touch it ;)

Hi colliepam

There are many people who will say you don't have to feed veg in a raw diet.  I don't feed it routinely but as mine seem to like veg it suits me to include it.

A food processor is helpful - I use mine predominantly for liver as neither of mine like their liver chunky.  I blitz in in the processor and freeze it in jam tart trays.  It's a horrible job but I do large quantities each time so I don't have to do it too often.  If I'm organised I blitz the veg immediately after as it helps to clean the food processor!  I freeze that too on open trays and decant into plastic takeaway boxes - it's so much easier to serve from frozen.

As SleepingLion says - steaming or grating will do just as well if you don't have a food processor, you can also just break up the peelings if you've cooked carrot and parsnip.  I also buy frozen spinach which chops really easily when partially defrosted.  If you want to get a food processor but can't really justify the expense, try Freecycle - I often see them on there.

Good luck with raw - mine love it

Lidl's this week have an electric mincer on offer - I have spoken to someone who has one of these, bought a few years ago, who feeds raw to her cats, and hers has done very well. So if you can justify £35, you could have a mincer that will easily process chicken bones to make your own balanced raw minces, whether including veg or not.

I understand it also has a sausage-making attachment, now that is soooo tempting as I have always wanted to make my own!

I have 2 dogs and feed raw diet, I use a juicer/blender for the fruit and veg.  It is also ok to feed the dogs lightly steamed veg if you don't juice it. 

Just wondering can you give them raw veggies? I always throw mine brocolie, cauliflower, carrots ect and non of it is cooked- they even enjoy raw potatoes and skins?

Sorry for hijacking ur thread...

Raw veggies are fine, but you will probably notice it coming out the other end if you don't blend, grate or steam it ;)  Mine love it when I'm doing a batch of blended veggies as they get the odd bit chucked for them, or rolls off the garden table!

thankyou everyone.yes a mincer would be great,and,i never thought of grating!only got two dogs,but i really fancy that mincer!Might just have to justify it!

Thank you- I'll continue what I am doing then cause they seem to really enjoy it :-)

Just wondering can you give them raw veggies?

Yes I feed my dogs raw fruit and veg; only occasionally do I steam their veg or they sometimes have our left over steamed veg.  However, it is important that the veg and fruit is put through a blender or juicer so that it is 'pulped' otherwise they cannot digest it and it comes straight out the other end as it went in! If you don't have a juicer or don't have the time then lightly steamed veg is ok too.

Hope this helps.

I have started to blanch the veggies before blending them - saves on the blenders motor and some say that the veg is easier digested that way.

Jake is a bit heavy so the vet siad bulk his food out with carrot, its so funny watching a big BC ferreting around in his bowl spitting out the carrot. Even grated............ he likes meat and biscuit only.
Whistler is a cucumber fan he is up to a third a day and any greens, but he will not eat carrot either.

My girls have two large carrots each day. they love them.  I go to the supermarket and buy organic for myself and a huge load of value, I am sure the checkout operator thinks I am mad!

My two love carrots as well... i only need to open the drawer and get the peeler out and they are there like a flash and they sit right by my side, watching my every move as they know it's carrot time...

Mine has a large carrot for dessert every night - and helps himself to one from the veg rack on his way out of the kitchen!
I get some odd looks from the shop down the road as I am always in there buying carrots - the bigger the better - they must think I eat nothing else.

Are we sure we've got dogs rather than rabbits in a dog's coat? :-)

> Are we sure we've got dogs rather than rabbits in a dog's coat?

Maybe it's something like why dogs roll in poo - to smell like their prey - except ours are eating like prey!
I do love watching him munch a carrot though, with his special 'carrot cruncher face' on, and the lovely sound it makes.

mine just finish them off in seconds... and then they act as if they didn't have one in the first place and want another one...

LOL one of ours will steal any fruit or veg she can get her paws on even sprouts!

I dont peel mine as they are clean when we get them from the supermarket.  I had a friend in once who said she peeled hers before giving them to her dogs.  I ask why, as the dogs would end up getting the top,tail & peelings!

Mine love their fruit and veg especially carrot and cucumber.  One of them cries and woofs ubtil I give her orange. 

I wonder if my girld love their carrot as their fav' meat is rabbit lol.

i feed raw and i blend ( using a hand held baby blender) the veg's and give fruit in bigger pieces but no too much - a good rule someone told me was anything that grows below the ground hardens the poo and anything above softens....you will hear yes and n for alot of things but a general no is onions and grapes!!! .....good luck i was asking loads of questions for ages on here and i am slowly getting it.... there is a great recipe on a previous link of pilarcard cake for natural treats :)

thats funny,i can just imagine jake spitting out bits of carrot!Whenever my dogs get leftover dinner,there always seems to be a sucked brussel or two in the bottom of the dish(thats not food!)