I've done some research, and the more research I do, the more confused I get (the sites are so contradictory)!! So now I have some questions.
1. Some say garlic is good for dogs, other say it's bad - so which is it? Currently I sometimes add garlic to their food (I've heard it enhances the flavour) I know not to give them onion though
![Confused :?](./images/smilies/icon_confused.gif)
2. I read that rice is easy to digest (as opposed to corn & wheat), so when I cook for my dogs I usually add some rice too (and they LOVE it). That doesn't feature anywhere in the raw food diet. Will it have any negative effects if I sometimes add cooked rice to a raw food diet?
3. Like I mentioned earlier, I can't buy ready-made raw food for dogs, so I have to prepare it myself. Now, with regard to supplements - I've read that they need, Flax Oil / Salmon Oil, Cod Liver Oil, Vit E (which apparently, you can't freeze), Vit C, B complex, Alfalafa (never even heard of this one). So I'm really confused now. When do I give what? And how much? Do I mix it with the food? Where do I buy it? (I assume at a pharmacy - won't vitamin supplements for humans be to concentrated for dogs?) And the cost!!! Not sure if supplements are less expensive in other countries, but here it's quite expensive. This seem so complex, not sure if I'll ever figure this one out
![Sad :(](./images/smilies/icon_sad.gif)
4. Loads of articles say I can use herbs to enhance the flavour, but none specify. Are there any herbs which are NOT good for dogs? I.E that I should avoid? Any hints on maybe what you've experienced with your dogs on what they like alot?
5. Another one is to feed them eggs, 3 to 4 times a week. So I assumed you mix the (raw) egg with their food....right? Errrr, now I've read that it's supposed to be fed shell & all. Is that true? And if yes - how do you feed it?
6. With no ready-made raw food available, I'll have to buy the 'meaty part' from our butchery, where we buy our meat. It's quite expensive, but seeing that I already cook for them about 4-5 times a week, I'm sure that won't be too much of a difference (I hope not). The other problem: I've read that when you buy BARF-food from a supplier, then obviously the meaty bone-part is fine. But when you buy it from a supermarket / butchery the "Calcium-Phosphorus Ratio Chart" (whatever) is too high, or something like that, and I'm not sure what it means, but apparently it's not a good thing. So what do I do now? That's the only places I'll be able to buy it from?
7. The general feel is that the raw food diet is less expensive that commercial dog food, but now after adding up what all the supplements & everything will cost, I think for me it might be more expensive (I don't know whether it is due to the fact that I have to prepare it myself, OR maybe prices in countries differ alot???) But anyhoo, IF the raw food diet does work out too expensive, can I sometimes feed them GOOD QUALITY kibble (if I'm able to get any!!!) with gravy, or maybe mix the raw food with some kibble, or something like that?
Just something I want to add: I'm not health concious at all, I don't read labels on food (food for my husband & I), don't count calouries, don't make sure we get all the vitamins & nutrients we need, so this is really really new for me.
I can't think of anymore questions just now, but will ask again as I remember them. If you can help me with these I'll really appreciate it - I'm soooooo confused. And I don't want to wait too long before I change their diet, as I've found out that the food I'm giving them now is VERY BAD for them. I feel so lost
![Sad :(](./images/smilies/icon_sad.gif)