Las Vegas Labrador Rescue has re-added this page to our site, in light of the scary amount of food recalls and contaminated products. If you would like a lot of links in one place about all the recalled foods, and current information, please see this site: Pet Food Recall - DETAILED INFORMATION!

Before, we launch into anything related to this topic, we are adding a disclaimer here, so please read before continuing on.

*The enclosed content is merely the opinions and preferences of Las Vegas Labrador Rescue and its volunteers. Everything we write on this web page is from our own personal research or experience. If you would like to talk more in depth with our volunteers, please email us at luvmylabs130@cox.net. Please understand that a lot of traditional Vets will not agree, nor be on board with our thoughts or practices, but if you would still prefer to hear about the diet we use personally on our own dogs (not the rescue dogs), please seek out a holistic or alternative vet in your area. If you live in the Las Vegas area, please email and we can pass on some names. This information is not to be used as hard facts nor is soliciting you to change your dogs' diet. Again, it is merely opinions of our choices and experience with Canine nutrition**

Now, let me open the actual Nutrition portion of this page with saying that all of the animals in Las Vegas Labrador Rescue's care are currently eating Canidae dry food. It is one of the few foods, we feel at this time is safe and nutritious enough for our fosters. To find out where you can purchase Canidae near you, please see this link: Canidae Retailers

Canidae All Life Stages formula is the one we use for our rescue dogs. You can see all of the caloric content and detailed information about it.

For brief review, here is a list of the ingredients:

All Natural Ingredients

Chicken Meal, Turkey Meal, Brown Rice, White Rice, Lamb Meal, Chicken Fat (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Herring Meal, Flax Seed, Sun Cured Alfalfa Meal, Sunflower Oil, Chicken, Lecithin, Monocalcium Phosphate, Potassium Chloride, Choline Chloride, Linoleic Acid, Rosemary Extract, Sage Extract, Dried Enterococcus Faecium, Dried Lactobacillus Acidophilus Fermentation Product, Dried Aspergillus Oryzae Fermentation Extract, Dried Bacillus Subtilis Fermentation Extract, Inulin (from Chicory root), Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Fermentation Solubles, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Mixed Tocopherols (source of Vitamin E), Zinc Amino Acid Chelate, Manganese Amino Acid Chelate, Iron Amino Acid Chelate, Copper Amino Acid Chelate, Cobalt Amino Acid Chelate, Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Ascorbic Acid (source of Vitamin C), Niacin, Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B1), Riboflavin (source of B2), Beta Carotene, Calcium Pantothenate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Calcium Iodate, Folic Acid, D-Biotin, Sodium Selenite, Papaya, Vitamin B12 Supplement.

 

As I stated above, this is what our Rescue dogs eat. The directors and foster homes of Las Vegas Labrador Rescue feed an all natural, RAW diet. Yes, all raw. Raw bones, raw meat, raw, raw, raw!

Even though we are still considered new Raw feeders (only one and a half years), its something that has been around longer than any brand of kibble or "dog food". This dates back to your dog's ancestry, of living in the wild. While they have, of course, evolved since then, the basic principles are still the same. Dogs are carnivores. They are not meant to eat, over processed nuggets of fillers and bottom of the barrel meat sources.

(See, even Kona agrees, check out those sad eyes.. )

One of the many great sites we have found to explain RAW feeding, simply, is this one:

                         Herd Pet Food

Please truly take the time to read the site, click on other links and read it with an open mind. I feel the FAQ portion of their site is especially helpful with some common questions, so I am going to copy/paste that here, but the actual link is: Common RAW Questions

Frequently Asked Questions:

Q: Are not commercial foods "complete and balanced?"
A: Sharp advertising would have us to think so, but commercial diets are generally not considered the best nutrition for the following reasons:

• Cooking destroys enzymes.
• Ingredients are usually of lesser quality.
• Preservatives may have negative effects on your pet’s health.
• Commercial diets contribute to periodontal disease, immunity problems, cancer, and allergies.
• Vitamins and minerals are insufficient.

• Raw foods improve the dog’s gum health, thus preserving healthy teeth and helps to eliminate “doggy breath.”
• Food allergies can be better controlled, with the most obvious result being, odor and healthy skin.
• Reduction in allergy symptoms can include: no more gunky ears or draining eyes, hot spots disappear and mysterious rashes vanish.

Q: BONES!… aren’t they dangerous?… especially chicken bones?
A: Cooked bones are brittle and dangerous. Only RAW bones should be a part of canine diet, as they are readily digested by dogs as part of the calcium, essential to healthy bones and teeth. Raw bones provide minerals and balance. Raw meaty bones also provide dogs good exercise and great satisfaction. Always supervise the introduction of raw bones into your pet’s diet.
 

Another really great resources for asking your own questions and reading about personal experience with the diet, from starting out with no knowledge or experience, all the way to expert RAW feeders who have been doing so for decades - see this great section on our favorite Labrador Retriever resources:

                                              Labrador Retriever Chat Natural Diets Forum

Las Vegas Labrador Rescue has a meeting/seminar in the works for people who are interested in this diet and possibly interested in making the switch. Please watch our EVENTS page for when it will be, but we are hoping for Summer 2007.

We have also compiled a list of other links that will help you do more research on this topic. Please take the time to read through the sites as they have taken time to put this information out there to help educate the public.

Links:

http://www.rawlearning.com - be sure to click on the FAQ!

http://www.lab-retriever.net/board/rawlinks - be sure to read through the entire list for what you are looking for!

http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/rawfeeding/ - be sure to sign up!