Which Combo Would Be The Least Gamey/fatty/ "red"

[Scottsmum]

So as some of you would know - Scottie is a huge fuss bum who LOVES his mince. I'm trying really hard to transition him / get him to 100% BARF model raw but I'm also struggling to get organs into him & at the moment the only way that's happening is pureed, frozen and wrapped in mince - the things we do for love hey!

The move also didn't help too much - *I* don't like the consistency or packaging the chicken mince comes in from the discount supermarket. I haven't actually found a "real" butcher yet (I don't spend all my time meat shopping for the dog) and the other day I found pork mince which looked (and was) a good consistency and price but when I got it home I realised it was imported from the USA - which I'm not so keen on. So... I'm slowly adjusting to new shops, suppliers, terms etc. I was also really spoilt because my last few months in sydney I was using Seven Hills pet foods and paying $1.10 per kilo for chicken mince!!! We're also very poor - living on one income so I buy what I can find and try it out and he gets what he gets that week.

OK - so last piece of this puzzle is that I need to watch his red meat intake. A feed of 100% beef is out of the question. I don't feed beef mince at all and only occasionally throw him a handful or two if we've been eating mince. Lamb is OK - but again - I don't push it. I feed mainly chicken and pork. He's not a huge fan of fish. RMBs are chicken or lamb.

Sooo.....

I've found a supplier who has the following mixes on offer:

1. Whole wild rabbit and chicken (breast, thighs and/or drums) & lamb liver & kidney - minced and frozen into 100g patties.

2. Whole wild rabbit, wild goat (steak, heart & liver & kidneys) - minced and frozen into 100g patties.

3.possum & duck (Whole wild Brushtail possum & Pekin duck) - minced and frozen into 100g patties.

4. ocean raised Chinook (King) salmon & chicken - same deal - minced and frozen into 100g patties.

I would supplement with veg, "meat" and RMBs as needed (depending on bone content in the mince / poo consistency)

Which of the above would be the "least red" (fatty, gamey?) OK for sensitive old man tummy. His last senior blood panel was excellent but my (old family) vet did tell me to limit his access to bourbon and T bone steaks (I'm really going to miss her!)

Price is OK - but for the best dollar value I'd do a big order and only pay shipping once and obviously I don't want to get stuck with something that gives him the runs! if he just plain hates it - that's fine I can hand feed him and fuss over him. (someone has someone trained...)

I'm thinking either option 1 or 3

Thoughts?

[The Spotted Devil]

My first question is what is it about beef that you are trying to limit? For example, one of my cats reacts poorly to beef, lamb and turkey but is fine with chicken - some sort of allergic reaction and the reaction to turkey but not chicken is unusual. My Dalmatian on the other hand isn't fed beef and lamb due to purine content. Eggs are fine. He gets fed salmon but not tuna or sardines - so they seem similar but are really different.

[Scottsmum]

My first question is what is it about beef that you are trying to limit? For example, one of my cats reacts poorly to beef, lamb and turkey but is fine with chicken - some sort of allergic reaction and the reaction to turkey but not chicken is unusual. My Dalmatian on the other hand isn't fed beef and lamb due to purine content. Eggs are fine. He gets fed salmon but not tuna or sardines - so they seem similar but are really different.

He gets the runs on beef instantly.

He loves eggs - boiled or fried. He's not a fan of fish - wont touch canned mackerel or sardines, will just tolerate salmon steaks if they're mixed with other things (yes - really - I got some on sale from Aldi once thinking they'd be huge hit with him and the cats...not so...) Wont eat kibble with fish in it either.

In general a low fat, white protein based diet seems to suit him and his tastes.

[Diva]

You say least 'fatty and gamey', but in my experience they don't usually go together, wild game is usually lean. But it is redder than the equivalent farmed meat, more exercise makes the muscle redder in things like rabbit.

Wild rabbit is really lean, all mine like it but it is too low in fat for them to have too much. Might suit if low fat is what you are after. Mine are a bit mixed on wild goat, some like it, some really don't. Have never fed possum. Duck goes down well.

I would probably try the rabbit and chicken combo first and see how it goes.

[Dogsfevr]

So what has he been eating & what is the main reason for changing ,Health issues,not doing well ob previous diet

[persephone]

rabbit is a 'whiter' meat than goat /lamb/beef . almost no fat ...maybe that & chicken?

[The Spotted Devil]

My first question is what is it about beef that you are trying to limit? For example, one of my cats reacts poorly to beef, lamb and turkey but is fine with chicken - some sort of allergic reaction and the reaction to turkey but not chicken is unusual. My Dalmatian on the other hand isn't fed beef and lamb due to purine content. Eggs are fine. He gets fed salmon but not tuna or sardines - so they seem similar but are really different.

He gets the runs on beef instantly.

He loves eggs - boiled or fried. He's not a fan of fish - wont touch canned mackerel or sardines, will just tolerate salmon steaks if they're mixed with other things (yes - really - I got some on sale from Aldi once thinking they'd be huge hit with him and the cats...not so...) Wont eat kibble with fish in it either.

In general a low fat, white protein based diet seems to suit him and his tastes.

Honestly, if he does well on chicken, boiled eggs and a quality dry food that's perfectly fine. I wouldn't feed ANY beef or lamb at all - my Dally has never had either and he is looking fabulous at 9 years. If you want to introduce a novel protein I would suggest you add one at a time and over a decent period such as a few months so you will know whether it agrees with him or not. So, maybe try the chicken and salmon patties first. Then try the chicken and rabbit patties. If the rabbit is fine then you could try the rabbit and goat. That's 3 out of 4 for you!

[Scottsmum]

You say least 'fatty and gamey', but in my experience they don't usually go together, wild game is usually lean. But it is redder than the equivalent farmed meat, more exercise makes the muscle redder in things like rabbit. Wild rabbit is really lean, all mine like it but it is too low in fat for them to have too much. Might suit if low fat is what you are after. Mine are a bit mixed on wild goat, some like it, some really don't. Have never fed possum. Duck goes down well.I would probably try the rabbit and chicken combo first and see how it goes.

I suppose I just put gamey and red together and red doesn't click with him. He doesnt like roo either (not an issue here in NZ - LOL). I think I am leaning towards rabbit / chicken as a start.

So what has he been eating & what is the main reason for changing ,Health issues,not doing well ob previous diet

Chicken mince, veg and kibble.

I) the above is unbalanced - I'm working on getting organ meat into him

II) I can't find a chicken mince I like here (yet) it's all a strange colour and consistancy.

III) He rarely gets through a bag of kibble before deciding he hates that flavour. When I was working full time I was happy to cater to him - I'd alternate between VIP Grain free, wellness and Ziwipeak but I'm just not in the financial position to be held to ransom by him at the moment. Raw is cheaper and I'd really like to give it a good go.

I think the thing is I'm not really "changing" I'm just struggling to find a human grade mince I like and these are on offer but I know nothing about the proteins.

rabbit is a 'whiter' meat than goat /lamb/beef . almost no fat ...maybe that & chicken?

Thanks Perse I'm pretty boring with my meat choices - have never eaten goat or rabbit so wasn't sure.

Edited December 17, 2015 by Scottsmum

[Scottsmum]

Honestly, if he does well on chicken, boiled eggs and a quality dry food that's perfectly fine. I wouldn't feed ANY beef or lamb at all - my Dally has never had either and he is looking fabulous at 9 years. If you want to introduce a novel protein I would suggest you add one at a time and over a decent period such as a few months so you will know whether it agrees with him or not. So, maybe try the chicken and salmon patties first. Then try the chicken and rabbit patties. If the rabbit is fine then you could try the rabbit and goat. That's 3 out of 4 for you!

OK - so big leaner question here:

Would a good kibble eg ziwipeak, wellness core or VIP grain free (ok so VIP isnt premium but he likes it) and chicken be balanced enough? I know that sounds really dumb...

I mean he is well - I know that and he looks good but I was worried he wasn't getting a balanced diet.

[The Spotted Devil]

Honestly, if he does well on chicken, boiled eggs and a quality dry food that's perfectly fine. I wouldn't feed ANY beef or lamb at all - my Dally has never had either and he is looking fabulous at 9 years. If you want to introduce a novel protein I would suggest you add one at a time and over a decent period such as a few months so you will know whether it agrees with him or not. So, maybe try the chicken and salmon patties first. Then try the chicken and rabbit patties. If the rabbit is fine then you could try the rabbit and goat. That's 3 out of 4 for you!

OK - so big leaner question here:

Would a good kibble eg ziwipeak, wellness core or VIP grain free (ok so VIP isnt premium but he likes it) and chicken be balanced enough? I know that sounds really dumb...

I mean he is well - I know that and he looks good but I was worried he wasn't getting a balanced diet.

Remember that the decent kibbles are designed to be "complete" and you've got less risk of mucking things up with a dog that is not in a demanding life stage (e.g. growth, in whelp, lactating). My Dally can't have red or organ meat....so I feed mostly Artemis dry food plus 2-3 frozen chicken frames each week. His training treats are boiled egg, tinned salmon, cheese, four legs, raw chicken etc. I hope that helps!

[Scottsmum]

Remember that the decent kibbles are designed to be "complete" and you've got less risk of mucking things up with a dog that is not in a demanding life stage (e.g. growth, in whelp, lactating). My Dally can't have red or organ meat....so I feed mostly Artemis dry food plus 2-3 frozen chicken frames each week. His training treats are boiled egg, tinned salmon, cheese, four legs, raw chicken etc. I hope that helps!

It does. Thank you.

I know that the best choice is "the one he does well on" and he is going well on mince and kibble - he looks good and I have bloods to back that up - but I do also often wonder if I could be doing better. Then it's hard because he's so fussy and sensitive. This dog mum business is hard - and I've been doing it almost my whole life in one way or another.

[JulesP]

So what has he been eating & what is the main reason for changing ,Health issues,not doing well ob previous diet

Scottsmum has moved to NZ.

Another possible protein source is cottage cheese. Does he like that?

[Scottsmum]

Jules - Haven't. He used to est a bit of cheddar but can't really handle it anymore - I assume cottage cheese is a friendlier on the tummy? he handles Greek yoghurt OK

[JulesP]

Cottage cheese is approved for Amber so assume it is fairly ok. She needed the low fat one.

[Scottsmum]

I get feeling it wouldn't pass the fussiness test but might grab a pot & see...

[Mrs Rusty Bucket]

It's not hard to make a version of mince in an ordinary food processor... I think I'd be buying human grade chicken and then putting it in the food processor - dividing into meal sized serves and freezing. I use those little containers that look like chinese takeaway but you can get in some supermarkets, they're more reliable than plastic bags.

I noticed in some of the kitchen wares shops I've been into - a lot have mincers like the windy thing my mum used to use... I don't know if that would grind up bones but I don't like feeding ground up bones in mince, not even raw.

I don't know what it is about freezer bags - put a steak in, freeze, bring it out to thaw, on a plate, and the plate gets bloody - even if the bag is tied and the tied bit is the highest point. Like the juice goes through the bag on thawing - YUK. Doesn't matter what brand of bag either.

I vote for the rabbit being the whitest meat on the list after chicken. But that doesn't mean he will like it or not react to it.

[Ashka]

On the list of foods No 3 would be my choice with as good a kibble as you can afford at this stage.

Bush tailed possum makes for good human food pies & pet food.

You could try him on the tinned Possum dog food first.

(Much prefer them being eaten than poisoned with 1080.)

Hope you are settling in OK. :)

Edited December 19, 2015 by Ashka

[Scottsmum]

On the list of foods No 3 would be my choice with as good a kibble as you can afford at this stage.

Bush tailed possum makes for good human food pies & pet food.

You could try him on the tinned Possum dog food first.

(Much prefer them being eaten than poisoned with 1080.)

Hope you are settling in OK. :)

Hey :) Thanks for that. I don't give him canned - he doesn't like it, he's grain free and it tends to give him the runs - so I don;t bother with it any more.

Settling well but holy heck it's cold. We all went to bed in thermals / beanies and an extra blanket the other day!

[JulesP]

Butchers are usually happy to mince or even slice meat up for you. I've even had stuff like liver minced up.

[Scottsmum]

Butchers are usually happy to mince or even slice meat up for you. I've even had stuff like liver minced up.

I know this is going to sound really dumb - but I haven't found a "real butcher" yet I went into a big chain one the other day - and it was just rows of freezers. Saw photos of another one online - same thing. No fresh food court in the shopping centre ... I'm sure the kind of shop you can walk into and order meat from a block with a wicked sense of humor exists - but I'm yet to find it.