Feeding/Switching to a raw meat diet?

1. Depending on their activity level you should feed 2-3% of their body weight. I feed 80% meat, 10% bone and 10% organ.

2. I have two similar sized dogs to your Yorkie that I feed raw and I would estimate around $10 a month each. The prive varies depending on what I find on sale.

3. Gorcery store, Walmart, local butcher but I find the best meat and organs at my local ethnic/international food market.

Check out the dogster website, there is a section called, so you are thinking of feeding raw that I referenced a lot when I first started.

1 - For an overweight dog, you feed 2% of their body weight. For an underweight dog, you feed 3% of their body weight. For an average weight dog, feed 2.5% of their body weight. This may have to be adjusted to fit the individual dog's needs, just like kibble.

2 - It really depends on where you get the meat, and what you get. Post an ad on Craigslist and I bet there will be people calling you offering their old freezerburnt meat - SCORE! I get this all the time, so I rarely have to pay for dog food. When I do, I keep the price to under $1 per pound.

3 - Supermarket, butchers, grocery store, ethnic market, etc. also, remember Craigslist.

http://rawfeederr.yolasite.com/

http://rawfeddogs.net/

I have been feeding my dog a raw diet for nearly 3 years and he's been thriving. You won't regret the switch!

*Edit: Dogs are NOT affected by worms/parasites in raw meat. Don't ask your vet about raw feeding either - 99% he's gonna try to sell you Science Diet or some other crap, because vets aren't nutritionists. Also, you don't have to spend a fortune on raw meat, it can be obtained very cheaply. Switching should NOT take 2-3 weeks, to switch you just don't feed your dog any commercial food for a day, then the next day you start feeding plain raw meat.

1. It depends on weight, not breeds or mutt mixes. 2-3% a day.

2.I spend about $20 a month on raw meats for two dogs.

3. Butcher shops, grocery store, and in my area we have a holistic pet food store that has some raw meats and bones. Research raw green tripe. That's hard to find, but the pet food store will order it for us.

I really recommend this guy's books. http://healthydogforlife.com/

I also recommend switching vets to a holistic veterinarian that promotes raw feeding in your area. http://www.holisticvetlist.com/

It doesn't take two weeks to wean. You fast the dog for 24-48 hours, and then start with raw.

some awesome answers here.

also, don't forget, that it's important for a dog on a raw diet to have raw meat and bones, and a variety of organ meats. this helps to ensure that the dog gets the nutrition it needs. don't feed brains or lungs, but do feed gizzards, tongue, liver (in small quantities) heart (is a muscle, lots of protien) etc. one of my dogs' favorite things is pork feet, with hocks, skin and bones intact.

they also love tripe, and it's VERY good for dogs, although it smells like something died.

you'll also love cleaning up your yard after a raw fed dog, it's much more pleasant than a kibble fed dog.

some places have meat wholesalers where you can buy meat in bulk, i buy 50lbs of turkey necks at a time for around $25. if there are slaughterhouses near you, try them too- they might sell you things like cow or pig knuckles, assorted sheep or goat parts, chicken feet, etc.

I'd stick to one protein source for a week or so and keep the bone a bit higher than the standard 'prey model' 10%. When I have pups I feed a mix of roo mince and organ in the morning, a chicken thigh, meaty wing or drumstick at lunch time and meat offcuts or heart at night.

Did you ever tested out Eating for Energy (120 raw food diet recipes) procedure? Visit in this website : http://www.stayeatingraw.com/Guide . It could clearly explain everybody!

Speak to your vet before doing ANY of this, some raw diets may contain bacteria/worms etc that your dog's immune system will not be prepared for regardless of how high quality the raw food is and your dog may need to go on some antibiotics/wormers for awhile while he adjusts. It shouldn't be a quick change either, it should take about 2-3 weeks to wean your dog off dog food and onto a raw diet. And to be honest, if the kibble you feed the dog is quality a raw diet isn't really necessary, just my 2 cents. It's a dog, it isnt going to start sparkling or doing more tricks or whatever bcause you're spending a fortune on raw meats.