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Dry vs raw stool volume comparison (actual numbers)

2K views 16 replies 4 participants last post by  Heather's 
#1 ·
I recently had the opportunity to do a little two-month study of dry vs raw stool volume, and of course I'm just OCD enough to do it.

It's not scientific and the differential is due in part to moisture (and water intake) but if you're the least bit interested in actual numbers, have a look . . .

Raw vs Dry Stool Volume Comparison
 
#2 · (Edited)
Great post Gary! My experience with kibble was very similar; bigger & softer poop (yuck), bad breath, dull coat, plus smellier poop and a little sluggish.

I definitely prefer feeding Emmie a raw diet as she is healthier on it, has lots of energy, stable weight, great teeth/gums, and better poop. I'm currently feeding her SmallBatch raw frozen and she loves the lamb, beef, and duck sliders. It also gets a 5 star rating on dogfoodadvisor.com.
 
#8 ·
I feed a high quality dry kibble. Now, I have read that if the kibble is high quality that that the stool will be smaller and firmer than it would be if you feed them a cheap supermarket brand. For me, that seems to be the case. Her stool is firm and small. I guess I am not going to be weighing it though! I've also heard that if you feed raw you run the risk of getting food poisonings. Is that not a concern? Raw seems so expensive. But then she eats so little that it probably doesn't matter.
 
#11 ·
Gary - thank you for this price analysis. I guess raw isn't as costly as I thought. And Jeanne, thank you for your response. I just thought I had read that raw can be dangerous as far as spreading pathogens, such as e coli and other unwanted bugs. I'll have to do a little research myself, I guess. I want to do what is best for Willow.
 
#12 ·
Safe steps in handling and storing meat are recommended to avoid food-borne illness, regardless of whether the raw meat is for human or canine consumption. So wash your hands before and after you handle it and all the other precautions you take for your own food. I've never gotten food poisoning from Emmie's raw food, nor has she, and I often touch it directly with my hands (e.g. taking the sliders out of the bag in the freezer in order to put a small portion in a container I use to defrost them in the fridge).
 
#13 ·
I have considered trying raw, but I am little hesitant. E.Coli can be extremely dangerous. I am going to check with the vet on our next visit. I would think if your dog is fed raw it would have to be in a contained area. Good hand washing would definitely be needed.
 
#14 ·
Emmie wolfs down her SmallBatch sliders; nothing is left behind and it happens very quickly. Basically, I put the food in her bowl, set it down on the mat in the corner of the kitchen where I feed her, she eats it (and doesn't drop it on the floor), then I pick up the bowl and wash and dry it right away. There really isn't any contamination risk. And the containers I use to defrost her food in the fridge are glass with very tight seals, which I wash in the dishwasher so they're also well sterilized after use.

A large percentage of people handle raw meat in their everyday life to feed their families so it's hard for me to believe that handling/storing raw meat for dogs is any worse/different. All the reports I've read of E Coli in dog food has been in dry dog food. Does that mean that people shouldn't feed their dogs kibble? I think the better solution is to buy dog (and human) food from companies that you've researched and trust.
 
#16 ·
I wonder if Scout would do that with raw food or does he just do it with kibble? When I used to feed Emmie kibble (when I first got her), she would take her dry dog food to her bed in the living room and eat it there but she doesn't do that with raw or canned food; just food that has no moisture in it.
 
#17 ·
I always keep a small bowl of kibble out for Scout and Truffles. Scout eats the kibble out of the bowl. They both have a portion chicken breasts and vegetables in the morning and in the evening. A couple times a week we get sliced roast beef for a change. It does take time thinking and preparing what they are going to eat. Scout is a pretty picky eater!
 
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