Prey Mode Feeding

[Gretel]

I'm looking after two Cavs who I bred and have just emptied their anal glands. I did them about a month ago and there was a lot in there but today even worse! One girl I thought I'd finished and gave one more squeeze and ended up with chunks down my shirt They are being fed prey mode. Previously they were on BARF but their owner has changed them over. Their coats look better now but it can't be good with the anal glands filling up this quickly and this much. I've never come across so much! Anyone else feeding this way and any input please?

[poodlefan]

I don't feed prey mode but I'm not surprised at this result. Bone does not provide much in the way of fibre to keep things moving along in the anal gland department. Its actually fur and feather that do that in a predator's diet.

Without vegetable fibre of something like psyllium husk added to the diet, expect more of the same.

Edited June 29, 2009 by poodlefan

[puggy_puggy]

I feed raw/BARF and have no problems.

Before I fed this way the pugs always had leakages and I would have to get them expressed a few times a year.

As well as chicken necks and lamb bones the pugs also get pulped veggies and fruit.

[anniek]

Pretty much prey model here - never had a problem with anal glands with either of them.

Poops are bouncy marbles, and I believe it is the "passing" of these nice firm poops that keep the glands clear.

[Gretel]

Pretty much prey model here - never had a problem with anal glands with either of them.

Poops are bouncy marbles, and I believe it is the "passing" of these nice firm poops that keep the glands clear.

Can you give me an idea of what your's would eat for a meal please?

[koolietas]

Prey model fed here...

I only feed about 10% bone - the rest is meat & offal.

Never once had a problem with anal glands - so it may not necessarily be a diet related problem.

Example of a couple of meals I feed my 20kg sheltie...

2 or 3 lamb hearts

lamb liver/kidneys & pork ribs

1/2 raw chicken & egg

salmon tail/heads

whole rainbow trout

whole sardines

and the list goes on...

I certainly don't supplement with any fibre like vegetables/psyllium husks. What are they feeding?

[poodlefan]

It might be worth noting that none of the posters feeding prey model without issues have small dogs.

Anal glands issues do tend to occur mainly in your smaller canines. I've fed BARF for years and one of my dogs still has to have her glands done by the vet from time to time. Diet isn't the only issue that affects those pesky glands.

[Gretel]

It might be worth noting that none of the posters feeding prey model without issues have small dogs.

Anal glands issues do tend to occur mainly in your smaller canines. I've fed BARF for years and one of my dogs still has to have her glands done by the vet from time to time. Diet isn't the only issue that affects those pesky glands.

That's true. I used to empty their glands every month or two when they were on BARF. Never the amount like this though! They have a raw egg for breakfast and tea is a couple of sardines or a lump of meat and a couple of chicken hearts. Along those lines. Their meals all came made up and I've just been feeding what was sent.

[poodlefan]

It might be worth noting that none of the posters feeding prey model without issues have small dogs.

Anal glands issues do tend to occur mainly in your smaller canines. I've fed BARF for years and one of my dogs still has to have her glands done by the vet from time to time. Diet isn't the only issue that affects those pesky glands.

That's true. I used to empty their glands every month or two when they were on BARF. Never the amount like this though! They have a raw egg for breakfast and tea is a couple of sardines or a lump of meat and a couple of chicken hearts. Along those lines. Their meals all came made up and I've just been feeding what was sent.

No bone or real fibre at all then.. not good.

[Sandra777]

They have a raw egg for breakfast and tea is a couple of sardines or a lump of meat and a couple of chicken hearts. Along those lines. Their meals all came made up and I've just been feeding what was sent.

Not what I'd call prey model. Definitely doesn't sound right to me

No bone content, no fibre/roughage/no offal (heart is a muscle meat)

Give the poor little guys a chicken wing

[persephone]

our dogs never have anal gland probs- they eat everything- bones/organs/some fur/wool/hair/ears.....

plain meat/eggs and a smidge of sardine would definitely not provide any bulking/hardening constituents.

[puggy_puggy]

They have a raw egg for breakfast and tea is a couple of sardines or a lump of meat and a couple of chicken hearts. Along those lines. Their meals all came made up and I've just been feeding what was sent.

Not what I'd call prey model. Definitely doesn't sound right to me

No bone content, no fibre/roughage/no offal (heart is a muscle meat)

Give the poor little guys a chicken wing

That's not even a BARF diet and is no way a Prey Mode diet.

Where is the bone? They need to have their diets changed quickly as it's totally out of whack.

How old are they? I hope they are not puppies.

[anniek]

Pretty much prey model here - never had a problem with anal glands with either of them.

Poops are bouncy marbles, and I believe it is the "passing" of these nice firm poops that keep the glands clear.

Can you give me an idea of what your's would eat for a meal please?

36kg male gets just over 1kg per day (in two meals)

26kg female gets around 750g per day (in two melas)

this morning they each had half an ox tongue

tonight they each had a chicken maryland (and he got 2 wings as well)

other meals - raw whole fish, lamb necks, pork ribs, lamb / ox heart, large chunks of chewy beef, pork tails, lamb shanks, half sheep heads........

once a week they get a mix of raw egg and yoghurt with very finely chopped liver (yuk) mixed in with minced beef (the only way I can get them to eat liver!

[wylie]

I feed prey model and have 2 papillons as well as the borders and Aussies.

The paps get exactly the same as the big dogs but in slightly smaller quantities.

They get half a chicken carcass or a lambs heart or some lamb ribs or beef bones.

Never ever had an issue with anal glands and they are both as healthy as, tho one could do with a massive diet but she steals extras from the borders.

I dont do vegies or anything else, they may get a small amount of leftovers or cheese or an egg but thats about it.

[hopenfox]

I feed prey model to my current dogs, and did to my Cav, Nicky, too in the last half of his life. Unfortunately I hadn't discovered it in his younger days and he had so many problems then with his anal glands, they eventually had to be removed. I would loved to have seen if the problem improved after changing his diet...

My vet told me Cavaliers are very prone to anal gland issues.

An average weekly Prey Model diet for Nicky was;

1/2 a chicken frame

1 lamb heart

1/4 ox tongue

1/2 a salmon head, chunk of liver

1/4 ox heart

small rack of meaty lamb ribs, 1 whole raw egg

1 lamb heart

[Gretel]

I've worked out I think they had chicken of some sort for a couple of meals but it only had a small amount of bone. I did see the pieces at the chicken shop today and recognised them. I think they are part of the leg but there is only a little bone. I said something about giving them chicken wings but she told me they don't have them any more cause there is too much bone? No they are adults so not going through any growing. They are going home tomorrow so I will have a chat. Thanks for the input people

[Staranais]

I've worked out I think they had chicken of some sort for a couple of meals but it only had a small amount of bone. I did see the pieces at the chicken shop today and recognised them. I think they are part of the leg but there is only a little bone. I said something about giving them chicken wings but she told me they don't have them any more cause there is too much bone? No they are adults so not going through any growing. They are going home tomorrow so I will have a chat. Thanks for the input people

If you're feeding prey model, they should get about 10% bone in their diet.

Chicken necks are about 1/3 bone, chicken backs are 40 - 50% bone. Not sure how much is in chicken wings or legs.

Dogs need bone for the Ca and P content. Depriving dogs of Ca and P is far more serious in young puppies, but still can have long term issues in adult dogs.

[Gretel]

10% bone isn't much is it? They would probably get about that but really with the way their anal glands are it is not suiting them. I think their diet needs a bit of tweeking. Thanks for all the replies I have fed BARF but never prey model so haven't looked into what it entails.

[Staranais]

10% bone isn't much is it?

I've done my own research (cos I'm paranoid!) and from what I can find, most prey animals are around about 10% bone. Big heavy animals have a little more bone, but then again wolves or wild dogs don't always eat all of their big weight bearing bones, so I figure that probably evens out at around 10%?

Some dogs seem to cope with a lot more bone than that in the diet, adult dogs are pretty good at excreting Ca that they don't need. I wouldn't want to feed any less than 10% bone though, especially not to a puppy.

I try to give my cats, and have given my dog, 10 - 15% bone in their diet - the way I feed, that means that 30% of the diet is chicken necks or backs.

[Sandra777]

I feed prey model and have 2 papillons as well as the borders and Aussies.

The paps get exactly the same as the big dogs but in slightly smaller quantities.

They get half a chicken carcass or a lambs heart or some lamb ribs or beef bones.

Never ever had an issue with anal glands and they are both as healthy as, tho one could do with a massive diet but she steals extras from the borders.

I dont do vegies or anything else, they may get a small amount of leftovers or cheese or an egg but thats about it.

Again, no offal. This isn't prey model. Heart isn't offal.