|
Post by elliottsmama on May 31, 2018 13:09:07 GMT -5
So my furballs have been on a raw diet from the start (over 1.5yrs). They took to it really well and it's all I've done. However, for almost the last year, I've had a huge problem with refusal of bone-in meat. So I end up giving ONLY bone-in for a couple weeks and then go back to the regular rotation. However, I'm having to do it ALL the time and they aren't getting a balanced diet. I know raw is the best for them, but in my opinion, not if they aren't getting a balanced nutrition from it. Not to mention the huge amount of wasted money on food they don't eat.
Anyway, I'm considering switching them to a top of the line kibble type food so that are getting the right nutrients even if it's overall not as superior as a balanced raw diet.
Any ideas before I try the switch?
|
|
|
Post by raynebc on May 31, 2018 13:16:14 GMT -5
You could have their teeth checked to make sure that's not a reason for them not liking bone in. You could try feeding easier bone-in meals, ones with smaller/softer bones like quail, cornish game hen, etc. You could also switch to a raw grind diet instead of resorting to kibble, but you'd need to brush their teeth regularly.
|
|
|
Post by Sherry on Jun 1, 2018 8:23:29 GMT -5
Can you grind, or go to commercial grinds? What happens when you do the strictly bone in, do they eat them? I would honestly do a day bone in only(heavy bone like chicken neck well smashed up), then a meal of heart/organs, then a bone in x2 meals. Then a heart, bone in x2 meals. Liver/organ, then bone in x2 meals. Give a couple muscle meals, then a day of just bone in again. For the first week, give 3/4 a normal meal amount. Hunger will help work it as well. This way, they get 2 full meals of heavily smashed up bone in meals which gives them no option but to eat some as they get hungry. I used to feed commercial raw in the mornings as a couple were refusing organ meals, but it became too costly, so they had to get used to just frankenprey. My one girl would hold out the single meal for the commercial raw in the mornings. Doing it this way she finally realized she had to eat what she was given. I would seriously try this for a couple of weeks before going to a kibble.
It would look something like this:
Monday : bone in only x2 Tues am: heart/liver/organ Tues pm: bone in Wed am: bone in wed pm: heart thurs : bone in x2 Fri am: liver/organ Fri pm: bone in Sat am: bone in Sun : muscle meat x2
|
|
|
Post by elliottsmama on Jun 1, 2018 22:32:41 GMT -5
They will eat the bone-in if that's all I give them, but when I start back to giving them the heart and other "good stuff", they will stop eating the bone-in and I'll just find untouched wings or whatever. Once I do only bone-in, they will eat that and it it all, maybe leaving part of a bigger bone, but eating all the other bones. I can try what you suggested, but when I've done something similar, they won't eat the bone-in day and they hold out. Stinkers.
|
|
|
Post by Sherry on Jun 2, 2018 8:55:15 GMT -5
If they do that, give bone for one more meal, then go back to the regular one. Sooner or later they will make the connection to get the good stuff they need to eat their bones.
|
|
|
Post by elliottsmama on Jun 5, 2018 15:47:28 GMT -5
I'll try it. Thanks!
|
|
|
Post by Sherry on Jun 6, 2018 8:13:24 GMT -5
They are SO good at manipulating us
|
|
|
Post by elliottsmama on Jun 18, 2018 18:01:53 GMT -5
Well, that didn't work, but neither is kibble. I can't get them to eat it even when I add the good stuff to it. I don't know what to do. I don't want them to not have the right nutrition and I fear if I continue down the raw road, they won't be getting the right balance because they start getting picky and holding out. But obviously I can't get them to eat kibble either. Punky will eat a few pieces, but Sebastian won't touch them. If I put yummy stuff on top, he licks that off, but won't eat a single piece. Brat!
|
|