Hi, this is my first message on this site so please bear with me.  For fear of spending all day going through all the threads to try and find a related topic, I have run out of time so will start a new one and hope to get some advice. 

I have a Red Setter who is 4 years old.  I spent 3 years trying to find a suitable food for him and failed miserably.  I have tried more food brands than you can shake a stick at which in its self is really bad as you are not suppose to change their food to much.  Eventually after 3 years of poor Riley suffering from bloat after every meal and passing the most awful wind, having the runs and vomiting every few days, I started him on home made food.  He has never been better.  I just worry that there may be somthing I am missing.  The mix that I have found works best is offal and lights blended with brocolli, peas, potato, and Carrots (if I dont blend it he leaves his veg), with some muscle off cuts.  The muscle off cuts are a bit expensive and I was wondering if anyone knows if it is alright to just give him offal and lights and no muscle offcuts.  He also has ground egg shells for Calcium, I have tried to introduce bone but they block him up too much.  Sometimes he cant pass a stool for a couple of days.  So I'm hoping the ground egg shells will be enough.  When I picked him up as a puppy the breeder was feeding him weetabix with puppy milk, of all things.  During his first trip to the vet I was told that dogs cant digest wheat.  After years of suffering from an appauling digestive system I sometimes wonder if this has given him an allergy to wheat, which can be found in pretty much all shelf dog food. 

So now he always finishes every meal, he is finally a healthy weight and his coat is beautiful.  Also because his food is blended it takes him a lot longer to eat it which helps stop him getting bloat.  Occassionally if I run out of prepared food and give him a bowl of unblended meat, he eats it so quickly he blows up like a balloon (I wont to this anymore).  We have had so many dogs throughout my life but never have I had so many problems with feeding a dog.  I have always believed a dog will eat what is put in front of it.  This has been a big reality chech.  Wouldnt change him for the world but if a digestive system transplant exsisted boy would I put his name down for it ;) 

So I would just like to know that I am getting this diet right, he has the same thing for every meal and loves it.  He looks really healthy and has also calmed down a lot which my vet says usually happens with home made food as it contains no artifical ingredients although he was a pretty calm dog before that as well. 

So recap:
Is there anything I am missing from his diet?
Is the same meal every day ok? (if he had shelf food it would be the same)
Would it be alright for me to just feed him offal/lights and no other meat or is this maybe a bit too rich.
Is it ok that he doesnt get bones and only gets egg shells?  Not sure what to do if it is not ok as it really doesnt agree with him!
Oh and I also put some olive oil in his meals, is this ok?

Any advice would be great, I have looked up a lot online but find most info contradicts the last info I read.  He seems brilliantly healthy on what he eats now but perhaps if I am missing something I worry it may not become apparent until it has done some damage? 

Hi LisaBrit and welcome to the forum :)

Several of us on here feed raw and home prepared diets over a multitude of different breeds.  The main thing from your post is that your lad sounds as thought he is now enjoying good health which means that in the main you're doing OK on the diet front.

You should find joining this mailing group BritBarf-owner@yahoogroups.com useful as there are 100's of dedicated raw/home diet users on there who will be ale to offer a wide range of tips and experience to help you best :)

regards, Teri

I'm too new to raw feeding to feel qualified to give you advice. However there is a forum called BritBarf that has very knowledgeable people; the forum administrator is very up on nutritional needs and creating a balanced diet. You may find people that have had dogs in the same situation as you as well. My first thoughts would be that a variety of meat is required to get a mix of essential amino acids. As for the bone, too much bone will cause constipation but a little is usually fine. I usually make sure there's enough meat given with the bone to avoid that. Once again, I can't really comment on whether egg shells are sufficient but you can buy meat grinders that will crush the bones. Would he be OK with that do you think?

We have a few raw feeders so you'll probably get more definitive opinions but I wanted to let you about the BritBarf group. (you don't have to be from the UK to join)

ETA - Teri you're much fast than me!

Hi, I have been feeding BARF for a year now, its the best thing I ever did.  A great book to help you get the most from it would be anything written by Dr Ian Billinghurst. 'The Barf Diet' is great.  Basically the general rule I use is a variety of meat (I use TPMS in Evesham, Worcester area) some inc the chicken has ground bone in so thats great. Green tripe, lamb, best mince etc.  Veggie glop that I always blend for two reasons, one so its mixed into the meat and they cant pick it out and its easily digested.  Try to mimic a rabbit, meat, bone and stomach content (leafy green veg). Chicken wings, lamb bones etc.  Eggs, cottage cheese and natural yoghurt.  Pilchards or sardines mixed with the meat twice a week.  I add kelp and alfalfa.  Follow the guidelines on omega 3 & 6 in the book (take to long to explain now!) Veg I blend could be spinach, apple, banana,greens,garlic,celery, green/red/yellow peppers, potato peelings,carrots - anything available really - keep it varied - dont use mushroom or onions and keep starchy veg low.  They have offal once a week. I try to balance everything over a 2 week period. If I am honest I dont think the diet you are giving him is varied or sufficient.  Sorry, just being honest! It may sound daunting but when you get going its really simple and the benefits your dog will get is worth it.  I buy enough meat for two months and store it in a chest freezer.  I blend enough veg for a fortnight and freeze it so its easy.  I do not use any wheat or cereals.  And most importantly everthing named above is RAW! good luck and well done for making the switch.  This is just my way of doing it, others may do it differently but I think what I do is best for my dogs and their health is the most important thing to me. Hope this helps.
X

Hi Lisa,

My absolute sympathy!! I can well imagine the frustrations you've had. Im nodding avidly as I read your post, as much as the interent can be an amazing information exchange it can also be a false prophet and sadly with very dangerous consequences.

Given the nature of your reasons for needing to create your own 'home made food' I think it would extremely wise to consult Royal Veterinary College - nutritional support service I come from a Norwegian family of Fishermen and fur trappers and have always fed home prepared diets.. thats just the way it was. I mention this as I note with somewhat incredulousness that there seems to be a 'trend' of raw and home feeders de crying the validity Veterinary input can have. Ignorant at best - reckless at worst in this instance.
        My cousin had a working sled dog that had similar problems to your Riley and he speaks very highly of the info and assistance he was given by this service at the RVS.
I hope this helps, keep us posted wont you, very best wishes and of course to Riley to x