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Inadvertent promotion for raw feeding

Basenji Feeding
  • If ever there was a video that did more to promote feeding your dog high quality kibble, if not raw, here's one…

    I guess it's from a Discovery Channel program about how stuff is made:

    How Pet Food Is Made

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqp4Rm1LuBo

    Some highlights:

    "It's the stuff of sophisticated nutritional science…"

    "Wanna bet some dogs and cats eat healthier than their owners?"

    "... but the basic ingredients that factories grind up to make dog and cat food are generally similar. First, CORN KERNELS."

    "As the continuous stream of shaped mixture exits the die, a spinning knife cuts it into pieces."

    "Once the pieces exit the dryer, they enter a revolving drum where they're sprayed with fat and flavoring. The fat is designed to add food energy, while the flavoring gives the bland pieces an appetizing odor and taste."

    … Something seems to be missing from this kibble (rated at 2 stars on dogfoodanalysis.com, FWIW). That is... where's the meat?? I guess it's sprayed on or something?

  • Heh, I come from a culinary tradition where fish heads, chicken heads, and chicken feet are considered fit for human consumption (I've eaten my share of the first, but never developed a taste for the latter two). But the point is taken – the definition of "meat" contained in dog food is also highly dubious!

    So again... where's the meat? ;)

  • Im so glad I feed my dogs a raw diet, I know exactly what they are getting!

  • I use either high quality grain-free kibble or Raw for Kananga. Usually 1 meal of each, per day.

    I would never give him anything of lesser quality. Makes me happy knowing he very well may live to be a bit older by having quality meals. :)

  • I also give my girls high quality dry food, and raw veggies and meats, but it makes me wonder sometimes how come when we were little, our family dogs basically ate what we did, leftover of course, and managed long, healthy lives…....

  • I once bought a book, 'The Food Dogs Die For' - after page 1 I stopped reading it was very revealing about manufactured feeds - a bit too much for me!

Suggested Topics

  • Raw feeding and "older" basenjis?

    Basenji Feeding
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    DebraDownSouthD
    I agree with agilebasenji… yes he needs checked. But, I also need to ask if you are reading up and following raw diet protocols or JUST feeding meat. Dogs need more than meat. It is possible you are doing damage by not having that diet balanced since you say almost entirely protein.
  • Raw food

    Basenji Feeding
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    L
    We switched our 2 boys to raw from kibble about 6 months ago. The switch came because we were simply exhausted from walking them 3 times a day because they had loose stool (we don't have fenced in yard, so we need to walk them to go to the bathroom). Our vet recommended more fiber in their diet to help with loose stool. This intuitively just didn't resonate with us. Basenji are one of the most ancient breeds of dog… why on earth would more fiber be a solution to their problem (I know the theoretical why, but logically it was counter-intuitive)? We read many sources or literature on the raw diet and thought this would be a good switch for them. Again, they are an ancient breed so moving toward raw foods seemed appropriate and logical. It took that about a month for them to get really accustomed to eating raw chicken quarters, rabbit halves or pork shoulders but now they have no problem gulping their meal right down, bone and all (for those of you who don't feed raw, gulping is a normal behavior and bone is an essential part of the diet). Their digestion issues have vanished and we've even seen marked improvement in their destructive behavior. Two super happy boys now, two super happy Basenji owners!!
  • Raw diet

    Basenji Feeding
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    KanangaK
    @nkjvcjs: I'm not at home, so I can't remember what we switched to, but I think it is the same thing. It comes in 4lb bags, and has a pheasant variety that the dogs are nuts for. -Nicole Yea, must be the same one. I picked up a 4lbs bag of the chicken formula and pheasant formula.
  • Feeding?

    Basenji Feeding
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    V
    I've noticed that dogs, including Basenjis, eat more and get chubby if they were abandoned and lived in the streets for a while, especially when they were young pups. One of my Basenjis and one of my rescues have cast iron stomachs, they aren't picky eaters, and they love food! One of my Basenjis doesn't eat a lot and I often hand feed her so I know she is getting enough nutrients.
  • Feeding Schedule

    Basenji Feeding
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    lvossL
    What is Arlene weaning the puppies onto? Orijen has a good grain-free puppy kibble. I feed mine twice a day. The best schedule I have found for housetraining is to get them up and out to potty first thing then they play while I get breakfast together, they get their breakfast and then are out again after 20 minutes, usually for a short walk. The pup is then crated or ex-penned while we are at work. One of us comes home for lunch and the pup is pottied and played with so they are ready for an afternoon nap. When I get home they go out again and then play with the "big dogs". Everyone gets dinner between about 5-6pm then they are out for their evening walk about 20-30 minutes later. Then I make sure the pups get a good play session before bed and out to potty right before. Usually it takes a few weeks before they can hold it all night so plan on pee break in the middle of the night, just pick them up and out to potty then back to bed so they know it is for business and not play.
  • Feeding FRENZIE

    Basenji Feeding
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    DukeD
    @basenjibratz: The only one that checks to see what's going on in the kitchen is Talker. When he hears me picking up the bowls and putting the kibble in it, he'll come into the kitchen. You're lucky - I have to comment now because it's been a few nice days lately, where the humidity is low and I have the windows open. I have been putting doggies outside when preparing their food. I try ever so slowly to open the lazy-suzan to get clean bowls, then quietly as possible to open the cupboard door and slide out the tray where the food is kept. They HEAR it!! It's amazing! Next thing that goes on is them squabbling on the deck pawing on the doorwall glass. Well, I'm glad they're not at my feet doing this. I let them in when bowls are in crates and they FLY to their places. Geesh!! They're not starving, they're very well fed with 2 meals a day and add treats…it's their thing, I guess. So young though. I hope they cool it in due time. Not hoping for them to get old, because I go along with them in time, but hoping for a little mellow.