Ah Ngau

I did. Thanks for taking the time to answer. Would you mind tell me how long has it been on RMB? What gives? What exactly was the worsening condition? How old was the GSD at that time? Any illness at that time? I know i ask a lot question. No intention to steer the thread into pro/anti RMB debate. I just want to know what sign to look for if my little guy's health is heading south. Cheers, Ben

Hi all, some background first:- My golden retreiver puppy has been on raw meaty bones and table scraps since joining my family. Everything is great - growth rate, weight control, energy, poo quality :rolleyes: , even his breath and body odour. But apparantly, I am the only one feeding RMB in the neighbourhood. Every time someone asks what brand of kibble I fed, a lengthy lecture on the "science" of commercial dog food follows. To be sure, I have read everything I can get my hands on but no amount of books and web sites can substitute first hand experience. Especially everyone, in no uncertain terms, warn me that I am killing my furkid in the long run (Got to admit that there is practically no peer review research on RMB). Hence my questions:- 1. Did anyone who fed RMB or BARF for a reasonable period of time but then went back to kibble? 2. If you did, then why? 3. On the other hand, if you never went back, how long have you been feeding RMB/BARF and how old is your dog now. Thanks, Ben

Chamois is good but usually it is too small, so you have to wring it out several time. Microfiber towel comes with a variety of sizes, choose one that is larger so Fido won't have to wait for you to wring it.

May be this is common knowledge but I couldn't find it here with the search function. Microfiber towel sold in auto shop is great to dry my furkid. Mine is a golden, I used to spend an hour with a hair dryer to dry his coat after a bath, even after using 2 cotton towels to puff him down first. Now, it takes less than 30mins. Going to swim is even easier. Get out of the water, towel him down, get in the car... by the time we are home, he's already dry. Hope this help. Ben

And also the Microfiber towels sold next to the chamois in auto shops. They work wonders but remember NOT to use softener on them. Oh oh, those even clean car too!

Thanks Julie/Steve

Sorry Appa, I can't help but to hijack this thread a bit, 'cos my 12 week puppy is having the same problem. His front legs were straight at 8-week old when I brought him home. After vaccination, I started letting him out to play with other dogs on a grass pitch. It may be incidental, but I notice his legs start angling outwards. Did your dog start having this problem when he began to exercise a lot? Hi Julie, my dog is on home prepared meal (mainly chicken carcass, fish, beef, pork, vegies and rice). I am limiting his weight gain to about 1.5lb per week to prevent possible hip problem, so he is a very skinny dog. Any advise on the diet for fast growing puppy (oh, he's a golden retriever). The only supplement is fish oil (1000mg/day) and Vit C (25 - 50mg/day). Sorry to hijack this thread again. Cheers, Ben

Someone pls correct me if I am wrong. Soaking rice thoroughly does not do much good. I vaguely remember that if we cook rice in water, a process called galetinization, which will dramatically increase the availability of starch for digestion by enzymes. This is why congee (rice boiled in water) is regarded as the best supportive measures for 3rd world children suffering diarrhea. I guess there is not much you can do now with the batch you already have but your butcher needs to know this. Cheers.

Warning: Newbie opinion below:- Mine is a golden retriever puppy, he could handle raw necks and chicken frame before I tried feeding fish. At first I minced the whole fish and add to his food, so he could have a taste. Next, I tried to buy small fishes with soft bones. He now eats any fish that is on special at the local supermarket. BTW, all fishes fed are raw in my case.

Warning: Newbie opinion below, take it with a grain/load of salt:- Had my first dog 3 weeks ago and fed him dry dog food on the recommandation of the breeder. We were warned by the breeder and the vet not to give BARF and of course, preparing food for him takes time. However, he pooed a LOT and had very bad breathe. After a couple of days, the scandalous smelling poo just overwhelmed the whole family. Armed with no guidance and a stern warning from the vet on bowel obstruction, my wife and I went ahead and bought every kind of CHEAP bones and meat in the supermarket. At 8 weeks old, our puppy began his interesting culinary adventure. We fed him chicken carcass, meaty bones, fishes (slimey, smelly whole ones with heads and tails), small amount of internal organs (offal?) and table scrapes. He began having 2 poos a day and we can actually control the consistancy of his poo. Too watery? Fine, less table scrape more meat and bone on the next meal. Too hard? Okay, more scrapes. I think your mom and sis just need a little nudge to the right direction. Why not prepare a week of food next time you visit. Chuck it in the freezer and it is as easy as feeding dry food. If they don't like it, fine, no harm done. If they do like it, everyone's happy, right?

Lucky you and what a lovely butcher. IMHO, variation is the key. Why not just throw in any vegies (minus onions) that is in season? It may be cheaper to make than sticking to a rigid receipe and just might be more nutritionally balance. Does he sell chicken only? It would be nice if he get a pal who sells fish. Like I said, variation and low cost, love to see this nice butcher makes a decent profit while everyone else get quality with reasonable price. Seriously thinking moving to your neighbourhood!

There is a very good/detail info on one of the vaccines, direct from the vaccine maker and answered all my doubts. Nobivac DHPPi I chose to restrict him to my flat and the roof garden before 10 weeks, then gave him the shot. Will give him another shot (DHPPi+rabies) at 13 or 14 weeks, just to be safe and comply with the local licensing.