This is going to be one for the books! Transitioning Lucky, Bugsy and Hope to Raw.... Challenges Gal

[carolina]

Oh I am just SO proud of my little rincess: Lucky!!!!

I got home today after 4 days out...... Kelly was giving Lucky her bites of meat every meal :high5: So..... Tonight I decided to give her 3 bites THREE bites of lamb.
AND...... A-N-D..... Get this: I just put it in her plate, covered it with WL like I cover her food, and stood back.
She ate every little bit of it
I did not need to hand feed her...... No spitting it out, nothing!

So, tonight was 1.2oz of turkey, 0.4oz of Lamb!
Tomorrow we continue with the hearts, venison.... Yeah - looks like my girl is going to get there just fine! :bigthumb:

 

[ldg]

We're approaching "this red stuff is yummy chicken, mom!" :high5: WTG momma!

 

[carolina]

We're approaching "this red stuff is yummy chicken, mom!" :high5: WTG momma!

Today she had TWO duck hearts! Didn't even stop to think about it!!

I think this intro will be faster than I thought it would!!

I a little while it is going to be - Mom, I don't want this boring chicken

 

[carolina]

​

HUGE step for Lucky today!
I intentionally "forgot" to put WL chicken on her food...... for the first time EVER! And..... She ate it! She ate it ALL
She didn't even think about it! BIG strips of meat, without WL - GONE IN SECONDS

And last night she had 0.4oz of Venison
SO proud of my girl!

 

[carolina]

Today is Lucky's Graduation Day!

No more WL Chicken to her I confirmed that it was not a fluke - she ate again, tonight an entire meal without it - including 4 pcs of Turkey heart! Ok - the Turkey heart needed hand feeding.... BUT..... That is a HUUUUGE progress

My goal is by the end of the week having all these meals at either 50%/50% or 100% - we will see!

 

[ldg]

 

[mrsgreenjeens]

  .  This is just so exciting.  (did you really ever think this day would come?)

 

[carolina]

  .  This is just so exciting.  (did you really ever think this day would come?)

I always hoped it would come.... But honestly, I didn't think it would come so soon.... Let's face it.... about a week ago, she was still eating tiny little pieces of meat - I mean TINY! And mainly chicken and Turkey - pork only mixed with other meats.... and only well covered with WL - she had never eaten a meal without it...
Today, a bit over a week later, she is eating full size strips of meat, no WL at all, and 0.4 oz of duck hearts, turkey hearts, Venison and lamb! I did NOT see this coming :blobgreen

Ok, on to the weekly weight update!!

Bugsy -
01/17/2012 -
20lb 8oz -
01/22/2012 - Maintained from past week
20lbs 8oz
01/30/2012 - lost 3.5 oz from past week
20 4.5oz
02/05/12 - lost 1/2 oz from last week
20lbs 4oz
02/13/12 - Gained 1.5oz from past week
20lbs 5.5oz
02/28/12- Gained 1oz from past 2 weeks
20lbs 6.5oz
03/05/12 - Gained 2oz from last week (First wk of Frankerprey Regular QTY)
20lbs 8.5oz
03/13/12 - Lost 4oz since last week :bigthumb: - First week eating a reduced 1.8oz/meal
20lbs 4.5oz
03/19/12 - Lost 1 oz since last week
20lbs 3.5oz
03/27/12 - Lost 3 oz since last week
20lbs 0.5oz
04/03/12 - Lost 1oz since last week
19lbs 15.5oz
09/15/12 - (First day of 4.5oz/day) Lost 3lbs and 2.5oz since started
17lbs 5.5oz
09/23/12 - Lost 2.5oz since last week
17lbs 3oz
09/30/12 - Lost 3.5oz since last week - Broke into the 16lb range
16lb 15.5oz

Lucky -
01/17/2012 -
12lb 1.5oz
01/22/2012 - Maintained from past week
12lbs 1.5oz
01/30/2012 - Lost 3.5 oz from past week
11lbs 14oz
02/05/12 - Gained 2.5 oz from last Week (first week eating raw)
12lbs 0.5oz
02/13/12 - lost 1.5oz from past week
11lbs 15oz
02/28/12 - Gained 3 oz from past 2 weeks (one wk raw, 1 wk sick, eating WL chicken)
12lbs 2.5oz
03/05/12 - lost 2 oz from last week (First wk Back on Kibbles)
12lbs 0.5oz
03/13/12 - Gained 1 oz since last week - First week back on raw
12lbs 1.5oz
03/19/12 - Gained 0.5oz since last week - mixed raw/kibbles
12lbs 2oz
03/27/12 - Gained 1oz since Last week
12lbs 3oz
04/03/12 - lost 2oz since last week - dentist, back 100% on raw
12lbs 1oz
09/15/12 - (First day of 4.5oz/day) Lost 12.5 oz since started :bigthumb:
11lbs 5oz
09/23/12 - lost 1.5oz since last week
11lbs 3.5oz
09/30/12 - maintained from last week
11lbs 3.5oz

Hope -
01/17/2012 -
12lb 14.5oz
01/22/2012 - Gained - Piglet ALERT! :ref:
13lbs 0.5oz
01/30/2012 - lost 6.5 oz from Past week
12lbs 10oz
02/05/12- maintained from last week
12lbs 10oz
02/13/12 - Gained 6oz :shocker:
13lbs 0oz
02/28/12 - Gained 3.5oz from past 2 weeks
13lbs 3.5oz
03/05/12 - maintained from last week (First wk of Frankerprey Regular QTY)
13lbs 3.5oz
03/13/12 - Maintained from last week - seems that we hit her sweet spot :bigthumb:
13lbs 3.5oz
03/19/12 - Lost 1/2oz since last week
13lbs 3oz
03/27/12 - lost 4.5oz since last week
12lbs 14.5oz
04/03/12 - gained 1oz since last week
12lbs 15.5oz
09/15/12 - (First day of 4.5oz/day) Lost 13.5ozsince started :bigthumb:
12lbs 1oz
09/23/12 - lost 2oz since last week
11lbs 15oz
09/30/12 - Lost 6oz since last week - Could some of this be hair? :dk: Had a lion cut yesterday.... How much all that hair weighs?
11lbs 9oz

 

[feralvr]

and add in a line of those dancer emoticons you have!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am Sooooooooooo proud of Lucky!!!!!!!!!!!! You did it, Carolina :high5: x 100 !!!!!!

Yay for Bugsy baby breaking the 16 lb. barrier And, I bet all of Hope's hair weighs quite a few ounces. OH I bet she looks so darn cute...... ix: please :lol3:

 

[carolina]

and add in a line of those dancer emoticons you have!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am Sooooooooooo proud of Lucky!!!!!!!!!!!! You did it, Carolina :high5: x 100 !!!!!!
Yay for Bugsy baby breaking the 16 lb. barrier And, I bet all of Hope's hair weighs quite a few ounces. OH I bet she looks so darn cute...... ix: please :lol3:

She DOES look SO cute and sooooo tiny! She has NO fat! She has a tiny belly, but it is just skin..... She is very fit! :nod:
The pictures are not very good, as they are all from my phone..... sorry about that..... But here is my little lioness!

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• carolina
• Oct 1, 2012

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• carolina
• Oct 1, 2012

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• carolina
• Oct 1, 2012

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• carolina
• Oct 1, 2012

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• carolina
• Oct 1, 2012

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• carolina
• Oct 1, 2012

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• carolina
• Oct 1, 2012

 

[mrsgreenjeens]

Why did she need a trip to the "beauty shop"?  Is this something you do regularly, or was there something wrong that she needed to be trimmed?  (just wondering, because I would think on Raw her fur would be so nice it wouldn't get matted, etc.)

Love that 3rd picture!  But won't she be cold this winter?  After all, that's a lot of fur to lose this time of year.  Has she got a nice sweater that she likes to wear  (if you're like us, we turn our temp down by 10 degrees in the winter, so it feels a LOT cooler in the house...that is when the outside temp ever drops!!!!)

 

[ldg]

and add in a line of those dancer emoticons you have!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am Sooooooooooo proud of Lucky!!!!!!!!!!!! You did it, Carolina :high5: x 100 !!!!!!

Yay for Bugsy baby breaking the 16 lb. barrier And, I bet all of Hope's hair weighs quite a few ounces. OH I bet she looks so darn cute...... ix: please :lol3:

Again - just GO LUCKY GO!

And BUGSY BROKE THE 16 POUND MARK!

AND Hope is SO ADORABLE with her lion cut!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (I have to use "thud" because there's no KABOOM! :lol3: )

 

[carolina]

Why did she need a trip to the "beauty shop"?  Is this something you do regularly, or was there something wrong that she needed to be trimmed?  (just wondering, because I would think on Raw her fur would be so nice it wouldn't get matted, etc.)

Love that 3rd picture!  But won't she be cold this winter?  After all, that's a lot of fur to lose this time of year.  Has she got a nice sweater that she likes to wear  (if you're like us, we turn our temp down by 10 degrees in the winter, so it feels a LOT cooler in the house...that is when the outside temp ever drops!!!!)

Actually...... One thing that happened with raw, was that her fur GREW
Unlike the raggies that don't get any mats.... She does..... and she hates, HATES grooming - I have plenty of bites to prove
She will not let me groom her...... so she was getting quite a few mats on her belly - and some of them were BIG
I put this off for a while because she was so stressed - then I decided to take her in since I was going to be home now for a little while :nod:
I am SO glad she is Mat-free! :bigthumb:

She is soooooo cute too! :love:

 

[kittylover23]

Been following this thread for a bit (pretty much lurking :lol3 and just want to say way to go Lucky!!!!! Woo hoo!

 

[carolina]

Ok..... as with everything with Lucky...... 10 steps forward.... a couple backwards :doh3:
It is a fine balance with her - and the balance falls on how to introduce the new meats.
She will eat Turkey and Chicken without any WL. However, she will not eat any other meat without it..... And I am really into introducing new meats into her diet, as I think it is important - so two latest developments:

1- she as said below, new meats only with WL - and generally hand fed. However, once she starts eating, she LOVES it - Duck hearts specially I am continuing to increase the QTYs very slowly - but she is getting a different meat in every meal - tonight she got Venison, at dinner she got duck hearts.... Had no problems with either, none with lamb.... or Turkey hearts :nod:
Thing is, once she eats the meat with WL, she won't eat the rest of her dinner plain anymore spoiled girl :nod:

So for now I think that it will be easier for me and the sitters to feed her with WL, and continue to introduce the meats - once she is fully introduced, then I remove HL. I know she can go without it.
She is doing AMAZING with chunks - chewing like a little champ!

2- she is not ready for a meal of 100% pork either. I tried again, and within 5 minutes it was all out. I don't know what it is, but she will only digest it well if it is 50/50. So that's how she will continue to get her pork.

On a side note.... I procrastinated until the very last day I could file my claim with Pets Best But I DID file them on the 29th.
They paid some yesterday, and the 2 dentals today, 2 business days later. They did call the dentist to verify Bugsy's treatment - I guess Stomatitis treatment with drugs other than steroids is not common, but they paid it all - dental, drugs, and even a spot on Allergy Drop (Allederm) I had bought and not claimed :bigthumb:

From Lucky's Dental, the only thing they did not pay was the $85 that was in re. to periodontal disease - the rest was all paid, for the resorptive lesions.

Lesson learned - I have to follow the advice of their AMAZING customer service: Claim everything - if you don't know if the condition is covered or not, claim. If you don't know the amount to claim, leave it blank. Their claim analysts will verify the bill for anything that is claimable.
Because I assumed that anything related to dentals could not be claimed, I spent a lot of $$$ with Bugsy that I could be claiming all along.

Hopefully I am not going to have these expenses with him anymore.... :cross: I might though..... Who knows :dk: I like knowing I am covered. He does need dentals every year, and that will be covered :nod:
Lucky's condition, Resorptive Lesions, is chronic too, so I am glad to know she is covered.
Anyways, Just wanted to follow up on this bit of insight..... and good news!

 

[carolina]

So..... She is now up to 0.5 oz of the new meats at every meal, and 1oz of the "old meats".
The new meats include venison, lamb, turkey and duck heart :bigthumb: She is eating a different meat every meal, and keeping it all down
She does need WL on the new meats, but I am tricking her - I let her eat the old meats first with no WL, then when she is done I top the new meat with WL before she steps away from the plate.

Her favorites are the hearts, and she sometimes need help with lamb and Venison, with hand feeding.... But not much -
She is filling me with pride!

 

[feralvr]

She DOES look SO cute and sooooo tiny! She has NO fat! She has a tiny belly, but it is just skin..... She is very fit! :nod:
The pictures are not very good, as they are all from my phone..... sorry about that..... But here is my little lioness!

IMAG0760.jpg

• carolina
• Oct 1, 2012

IMAG0761.jpg

• carolina
• Oct 1, 2012

IMAG0772.jpg

• carolina
• Oct 1, 2012

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• carolina
• Oct 1, 2012

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• carolina
• Oct 1, 2012

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• carolina
• Oct 1, 2012

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• carolina
• Oct 1, 2012

:lol3: PLEASE don't tell Hope that she made me laugh!!!! She looks SOOOOOO adorable. I am sorry I didn't see this sooner, but better late than never. AWWWWWWW, Carolina, she is just adorable. OMG I just want to give her a big, giant kiss top of her head. I LOVE her ear fluff too. Just TOOOO precious!!! :love:

 

[feralvr]

On a side note.... I procrastinated until the very last day I could file my claim with Pets Best But I DID file them on the 29th.
They paid some yesterday, and the 2 dentals today, 2 business days later. They did call the dentist to verify Bugsy's treatment - I guess Stomatitis treatment with drugs other than steroids is not common, but they paid it all - dental, drugs, and even a spot on Allergy Drop (Allederm) I had bought and not claimed :bigthumb:
From Lucky's Dental, the only thing they did not pay was the $85 that was in re. to periodontal disease - the rest was all paid, for the resorptive lesions.
Lesson learned - I have to follow the advice of their AMAZING customer service: Claim everything - if you don't know if the condition is covered or not, claim. If you don't know the amount to claim, leave it blank. Their claim analysts will verify the bill for anything that is claimable.
Because I assumed that anything related to dentals could not be claimed, I spent a lot of $$$ with Bugsy that I could be claiming all along.
Hopefully I am not going to have these expenses with him anymore.... :cross: I might though..... Who knows :dk: I like knowing I am covered. He does need dentals every year, and that will be covered :nod:
Lucky's condition, Resorptive Lesions, is chronic too, so I am glad to know she is covered.
Anyways, Just wanted to follow up on this bit of insight..... and good news!

I JUST LOVE Pet's Best!!!!!!!!!! Carolina, that is just awesome news. They are wonderful!!!!!!!!!!!! I just recommended them to Angel's mom who is looking for insurance. I have three of my six insured and am planning on getting the other three insured this year. It IS so very expensive when someone falls ill and I want to be able to give them the best treatment available. I have been so thrilled with Pet's Best and their customer service is so empathetic and caring. Just blows my mind how much they care. It is like getting emotional support AND good coverage all in one!!!

So..... She is now up to 0.5 oz of the new meats at every meal, and 1oz of the "old meats".
The new meats include venison, lamb, turkey and duck heart :bigthumb: She is eating a different meat every meal, and keeping it all down
She does need WL on the new meats, but I am tricking her - I let her eat the old meats first with no WL, then when she is done I top the new meat with WL before she steps away from the plate.
Her favorites are the hearts, and she sometimes need help with lamb and Venison, with hand feeding.... But not much -
She is filling me with pride!

YAY!!!!!!!!!! Momma SHOULD be proud and full of pride. Your hard work has really paid off with Lucky :rub: :heart3: I am SO happy that she is accepting some new proteins. Forget the Pork for now!!! This is incredible news about all of the other meats she is taking and tolerating!! :high5:

 

[carolina]

Just a quick weight update, haven't done it in a while :anon:

Bugsy -
01/17/2012 -
20lb 8oz -
01/22/2012 - Maintained from past week
20lbs 8oz
01/30/2012 - lost 3.5 oz from past week
20 4.5oz
02/05/12 - lost 1/2 oz from last week
20lbs 4oz
02/13/12 - Gained 1.5oz from past week
20lbs 5.5oz
02/28/12- Gained 1oz from past 2 weeks
20lbs 6.5oz
03/05/12 - Gained 2oz from last week (First wk of Frankerprey Regular QTY)
20lbs 8.5oz
03/13/12 - Lost 4oz since last week :bigthumb: - First week eating a reduced 1.8oz/meal
20lbs 4.5oz
03/19/12 - Lost 1 oz since last week
20lbs 3.5oz
03/27/12 - Lost 3 oz since last week
20lbs 0.5oz
04/03/12 - Lost 1oz since last week
19lbs 15.5oz
09/15/12 - (First day of 4.5oz/day) Lost 3lbs and 2.5oz since started
17lbs 5.5oz
09/23/12 - Lost 2.5oz since last week
17lbs 3oz
09/30/12 - Lost 3.5oz since last week - Broke into the 16lb range
16lb 15.5oz
10/15/12 - Lost 5oz in the last 15 days
16lbs 10.5oz

Lucky -
01/17/2012 -
12lb 1.5oz
01/22/2012 - Maintained from past week
12lbs 1.5oz
01/30/2012 - Lost 3.5 oz from past week
11lbs 14oz
02/05/12 - Gained 2.5 oz from last Week (first week eating raw)
12lbs 0.5oz
02/13/12 - lost 1.5oz from past week
11lbs 15oz
02/28/12 - Gained 3 oz from past 2 weeks (one wk raw, 1 wk sick, eating WL chicken)
12lbs 2.5oz
03/05/12 - lost 2 oz from last week (First wk Back on Kibbles)
12lbs 0.5oz
03/13/12 - Gained 1 oz since last week - First week back on raw
12lbs 1.5oz
03/19/12 - Gained 0.5oz since last week - mixed raw/kibbles
12lbs 2oz
03/27/12 - Gained 1oz since Last week
12lbs 3oz
04/03/12 - lost 2oz since last week - dentist, back 100% on raw
12lbs 1oz
09/15/12 - (First day of 4.5oz/day) Lost 12.5 oz since started :bigthumb:
11lbs 5oz
09/23/12 - lost 1.5oz since last week
11lbs 3.5oz
09/30/12 - maintained from last week
11lbs 3.5oz
10/15/12 - Lost 3.5 oz in the last 15 days
11lbs

Hope -
01/17/2012 -
12lb 14.5oz
01/22/2012 - Gained - Piglet ALERT! :ref:
13lbs 0.5oz
01/30/2012 - lost 6.5 oz from Past week
12lbs 10oz
02/05/12- maintained from last week
12lbs 10oz
02/13/12 - Gained 6oz :shocker:
13lbs 0oz
02/28/12 - Gained 3.5oz from past 2 weeks
13lbs 3.5oz
03/05/12 - maintained from last week (First wk of Frankerprey Regular QTY)
13lbs 3.5oz
03/13/12 - Maintained from last week - seems that we hit her sweet spot :bigthumb:
13lbs 3.5oz
03/19/12 - Lost 1/2oz since last week
13lbs 3oz
03/27/12 - lost 4.5oz since last week
12lbs 14.5oz
04/03/12 - gained 1oz since last week
12lbs 15.5oz
09/15/12 - (First day of 4.5oz/day) Lost 13.5ozsince started :bigthumb:
12lbs 1oz
09/23/12 - lost 2oz since last week
11lbs 15oz
09/30/12 - Lost 6oz since last week - Could some of this be hair? :dk: Had a lion cut yesterday.... How much all that hair weighs?
11lbs 9oz
10/15/12 - lost 1.5oz in the last 15 days
11lbs 7.5oz

 

[ldg]

09/30/12 - Lost 3.5oz since last week - Broke into the 16lb range 16lb 15.5oz

10/15/12 - Lost 5oz in the last 15 days 16lbs 10.5oz

GREAT, GREAT job momma!