So,I'm reading the book, Work Wonders: Feed Your Dog Raw Meaty Bones. In it he suggests and even recommends feeding raw fish. I joined the raw feeding group on FB (which honestly is a little intense IMO) and they seem adamant that since fish is not part of a natural diet, it should not be in the protein rotation.

I'm on board with wanting to start my pup on raw when I bring he/she home. Am I nervous? Yes. Am I going to be feeding whole prey? Nope. Fish seems like it'd be a good option.

Anyone use fish as part of their rotation ? Any issues?

I know with some of the fishes, which I think is especially salmon?, you cannot feed to them because of parasites. If you cook the fish or I think freeze it for a long time to kill the harmful bacteria then you can, but that's why a lot of people feed the raw meat like chicken turkey etc because its easier and safer for their dogs and can be fed without any additional steps.

I'm sure people who know more about raw than me will chime in soon! As I've done a lot of research, I've just been to scared to actually put it into affect yet, so I don't have any real world experience other than marrow bones.

It definitely is intimidating for sure! I knew about the salmonids and mercury/ parasites etc. I see some people use sardines as snacks and such. Seems like the more I read the more confused I get  

ccurran07 wrote:

It definitely is intimidating for sure! I knew about the salmonids and mercury/ parasites etc. I see some people use sardines as snacks and such. Seems like the more I read the more confused I get  

Yeah, thats why I have yet to start it. I need to get a better grasp on it, and start slowly which I plan on doing as soon I as find a farm a little closer that I can get the meat from.

It does sound like you have done a lot of research and since you already know about the bacteria I would trust your gut, and do what you think is best! Plus a lot of people feed fish oil as a daily supplement here, so I don't see what a problem would be with feeding safe fishes, but I would use as many different safe proteins as possible just so your puppy is getting a lot of different nutrients.

ccurran07 wrote:

they seem adamant that since fish is not part of a natural diet, it should not be in the protein rotation.

I thought fish was a part of a natural diet O,o. Am I wrong?

CavingSiberian wrote:

ccurran07 wrote:

they seem adamant that since fish is not part of a natural diet, it should not be in the protein rotation.

I thought fish was a part of a natural diet O,o. Am I wrong?

I don't know! Lol according to some raw feeding groups it's not!

By the way, I don't know if anyone had checked out the raw feeding group on fb, but they scare me a little...and can be kind of rude

For our dogs, fish absolutely would be part of the diet.


I only feed fish once a week.

ccurran07 wrote:

By the way, I don't know if anyone had checked out the raw feeding group on fb, but they scare me a little...and can be kind of rude

Yes definitely! I am part of that group and they are scary, not helpful, and pretty much just nazis. Believe me I'm all for the raw but there's more than one way to skin a cat. I personally don't feed vegetables but I don't tell everyone who does that they are idiots and have no business owning an animal. I pretty much just silently watch from time to time, as it is fairly educational but the attitude that they have kind of kills it. They're right and everyone else is just super wrong and HOW DARE YOU suggest that. Please, people. We're not deactivating bombs here. We're feeding our dogs. Come on.  

Fish is fine. I haven't given any to my girl yet, but I have about 1/3 lb of salmon in the freezer that's been there for a month. She's been having issues so I held off but once she gets back on track we'll be adding fish. Unfortunately it's pretty expensive. Megan, where do you get your fish? And how long do you freeze it first?

ccurran07 wrote:

By the way, I don't know if anyone had checked out the raw feeding group on fb, but they scare me a little...and can be kind of rude

This group is much smaller and very helpful/supportive, but it's closed so you might have to wait a day or two to join:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/preymodeldiet/

There are less than 150 members right now but it's very active with a lot of helpful files to read. The pinned post says "Our community refrains from bashing and there is no such thing as a 'stupid question'. Ask away!"

eddycaaa wrote:

This group is much smaller and very helpful/supportive, but it's closed so you might have to wait a day or two to join:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/preymodeldiet/

There are less than 150 members right now but it's very active with a lot of helpful files to read. The pinned post says "Our community refrains from bashing and there is no such thing as a 'stupid question'. Ask away!"

Awesome! I joined. It would be nice to be a part of a group that is actually helpful instead of chastising you for breathing. I'm always scared to say anything on that group because you never know what is going to be the wrong thing and you'll have 50 people attacking you before you even know what you did wrong.

Wow, that group is way better!! Thanks for sharing

ccurran07 wrote:

By the way, I don't know if anyone had checked out the raw feeding group on fb, but they scare me a little...and can be kind of rude

I actually unjoined it because some people were very rude, I plan on giving London fish probably once or twice a week after she gets introduced to it, I'll probably just give her some of the canned fish since I don't want to have to freeze things (I'll forget about them)lol and yes fish is part of the natural diet. Back home wolves will often pick off the salmon that bears leave behind, bears tend to only eat the fat parts (skin,roe and brains). They'll also go into shallow waters and fish for salmon themselves

if you catch the fish or dont know and want to feed make sure you freeze for atleast 24 hours to kill the parasites