I was reading some homemade dog food recipes when I came across an article suggesting that everyone should switch to meat sawdust as an alternative to quality meat. There was a time when I had thought of sticking to this option, but something happened one day that made me realize that going for cheaper alternatives isn't always the best idea and may often lead to tragic consequences.
What is Meat Sawdust?
But first, what is this meat sawdust? What's the big deal about it, and why do many Facebook dog owners recommend it?
Meat sawdust is a combination of ground pork and ground beef. Other grocery and meat shops mix it with variants such as ground chicken, ox, or fish. You might hear some Filipinos call it "pinag-tabasan" because, generally, these are the "wastes" from cutting meats that are re-packed straight from their machines (and chopping boards) and sold for a very affordable price.
Sounds healthy. Well, that's what I thought.
Jordan - The Senior Black Labrador Retriever
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| This is Jordan. He's a sweet old labrador retriever who finally explored the world for the first time. |
Someone gave us Jordan - a senior black labrador retriever three years ago. His 1st owner could no longer take care of him. He was severely malnourished that I could easily see his ribs. He couldn't walk straight because he had been chained almost his entire life.
He didn't want to eat kibbles, so we fed him homemade dog food during his first four months in our care. We were spending more or less Php 500 daily for his food only. His health and energy improved, but he was still underweight. We had to add a little more protein to his diet, but since I was already seven months pregnant then (not to mention that I was having a high-risk pregnancy and was spending at least Php 20,000 for my meds and follow-up check-ups) and I could only do so much, we knew we had to think of other options.
Our Experience with Meat Sawdust
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While the latter may sound harmless, many people from this city would probably agree that the meat from this "huge mall" grocery has a distinctive smell. It doesn't taste good, either.
However, we couldn't change their diet immediately without undergoing a 3-day food transition, so we only bought a few packs. When I opened the package, I smelled something like a rotten egg. When I started washing the meat sawdust, I felt some strange tiny stuff. I thought they were just crushed bones, but my horror came true when I looked at them closely. They were staples! I also saw a few crystal-like stuff that was like broken glasses. I put everything we bought in a garbage bag and dumped it outside without any second thought.
What if I didn't see these tiny killers? I couldn't imagine the possible scenario if I ignored the hard stuff I felt while washing it. Sometimes, my trust issues can be helpful too.
I posted it on an online forum for dogs that night. Many members shared some similar experiences as well. We're talking about different sources here - not only about the grocery where I bought that last meat sawdust.
Important Note to Dog Owners Who Feed Their Dogs Meat Sawdust
This is a big lesson for me and all of us. Some meat-sawdust fans haven't encountered a similar experience yet, but this should be your starting point to be more careful about feeding your dogs.
If you still want to continue feeding sawdust, check for possible inedible items in the meat. Wash it more than twice. If it smells foul and you feel something strange while washing it, dump it immediately. Most importantly, never feed your dog raw meat sawdust! I've seen some dog owners on Facebook providing this to their pets. One of the dogs I saw eating this got an infection called "Listeria" eventually.
While raw feeding dogs has benefits and risks, it only applies to quality and fresh raw meat, not the scraps taken from meat grinders or contaminated chopping boards. However, I wouldn't recommend this feeding since we haven't tried it yet.
Alternatives to Meat Sawdust
As responsible dog owners, we always want the best for them. Instead of feeding them meat sawdust, there are healthier alternatives like chicken (and liver), turkey, beef, lamb, bison, etc. Some fruits and vegetables are good, too!
I recommend premium kibbles like Acana for small-breed adult dogs, Acana for small-breed puppies, Acana Pacifica, Go Naturals, Taste of the Wild, or Orijen if you like a cheaper alternative. If you live in the Philippines, click each link to visit legit dog food sellers from Lazada Ph.
These premium kibbles are made from high-quality and all-natural ingredients. We've already tried these four brands, and all showed positive results on our dogs' health, skin, and coat - especially Jordan, who transformed from a sad and traumatized dog to a happy and energetic senior dog a few weeks after sticking to this premium diet.
Best Premium Dog Food I Tried For My Dogs
ACANA® Red Meat Recipe
Crafted with Fresh and Raw Ingredients: Matches the natural diets and physiology of dogs to best meet their natural nutritional needs
Check this out on Amazon
ACANA® Highest Protein
Grain-Free and High-Protein: High in protein and full of key nutrients with fresh or raw animal ingredients, whole vegetables, fruits, and botanicals
ACANA® Singles Limited Ingredient Dry Dog Food
Limited Ingredient Diet Formula: 65 percent of each recipe is from only one animal source for diet-sensitive or choosy dogs
Check this out on Lazada Philippines (Acana Single Grass Fed Lamb Dry Dog Food 2kg)
ORIJEN Original dog food delivers a diet rich and varied in fresh, whole-animal ingredients from free-run chicken and turkey, wild-caught fish, and cage-free eggs
Check this out on Amazon
ORIJEN Senior dog food delivers a diet rich and varied in fresh, whole animal ingredients from free-run chicken and turkey, wild-caught fish, and cage-free eggs
ORIJEN Puppy dog food delivers a diet rich and varied in fresh, whole animal ingredients from free-run chicken and turkey, wild-caught fish, and cage-free eggs
Taste of the Wild with Ancient Grains Ancient Prairie with Roasted bison and venison dry dog food; real meat is the #1 ingredient; high-protein (32%) for bones, joints, and lean, strong muscles.
Check this out on Lazada Philippines (Taste of the Wild Grain-Free Dry Dog Food - High Prairie with Roasted Bison & Roasted Venison)
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Thank you so much we were feeding our dog sawdust but now ill feed him meat with better quality
ReplyDeleteI think we better buy some legit groceries store and check it carefully before we feed to our dogs
ReplyDeleteSM Hypermarket is a legit grocery store. And that's where I bought that smelly sawdust years ago.
Deletedont try to buy from any SM malls. if you want a fresh sawdust meat with no foul smell, try it in rustans and landmarks. you'll see the meat is still in red color and fresh
DeleteYou said it yourself that a reputable meatshop you only trust is where you should get the bone sawdust(is the proper description), and you and your dog will be fine.
DeleteThank you so much for being a responsible dog owner 🐕👍
ReplyDeleteThanks for info... would you know who sells greem tripes. My dog has chronic kidney disease .. i finslly found someone delivering raw goat milk
ReplyDeleteI used to give my dog sawdust meat.. less than 5x I think.. but I don't like the texture of it.. since then, I prefer giving my dog chicken or pork liver and a good quality meat..
ReplyDeleteWhich grocery is this please?
ReplyDeleteSM Hypermarket.
DeleteI been feeding my two beautiful pitbull with a fresh saw dust that I only buy from the arbatuar and I always avoid buying from any groceries butcher since they sell smelling and rotten saw dust.
DeleteMy dogs are happy and healthy
Im still feeding my dog meat sawdust from quality meatshop owner..i know the meat is clean and fresh..so far my dogs are healthy..
ReplyDeleteGood for you then!
DeleteI have deleted too many negative posts about my article. This post was made out of my PERSONAL EXPERIENCE. The title is "Why I Stopped Feeding My Dogs Meat Sawdust..." and not "Why You Should Stop Feeding Your Dogs Meat Sawdust..".
Oh my God people, get a grip. If you want to feed your dogs meat sawdust, it's up to you. No one is forcing you to stop. :)
Where did you get your sawdust ? And how much ?
Deleteits my first time to buy saw dust meat yeaterday .. but i dont like the smell.. then i found out that saw dust if not good for puppies .. :( thats why ive stop buying it again .
ReplyDeleteExcept sm hypermarket, where do you think can i buy a good quality sawdust for my buddy?
ReplyDeleteI buy sawdust from Monterey. It's clean.
DeleteIlang hours po ba nasisira ang sawdust na pinakuluan kapag di nalagay sa ref brownout pu kasi samin e and walang freezer pero pinakuluan ko na yung half kilo ng sawdust
ReplyDeleteTry nyo po s robinson supermarket kng may malapit s inyo. Maaga lng punta nyo ksi s area namin ubos n pag hapon. Last time i bought it was at 65 per kilo. That was around early 2019 pa so baka nag increase n price.
ReplyDeleteShare q lang.. Twice q pinapakuluan ung sawdust para hnd macyadong ma mantika. Suka at konting salt lang lagay q. Sa 3 branches of monterey na sawdust napaka dumi ng sawdust nila madaming ipis kaya hnd na kami umulit. sa puregold kami bumibili. Malinis at bago.. pero double check kc baka may butong naligaw.. and 3 days sa ref ubos na ng mga alaga. para sure dapat dinidrain cya pag inistore sa ref para sa mga furbabies natin.. mas madaling masira pag may sabaw sabaw.. dapat ida-dry tlaga ung sawdust for me ah.. hinahaluan q cya ng dog food and gulay2 pag siniserve q sa mga alaga q.. so far ok naman at dun cla lumaki ng husto..
ReplyDelete500 a day on dog food for a single dog? that can't be right!
ReplyDeleteI never fed saw dust to my dogs and never will. I will never put their health at risk.
ReplyDeleteWhether its from SM, Rustans or Monterey - saw dist is trash.
Now I'm scared because I wanted to buy for my dog, I'll check genuine meat stores and they love bigger chunks of meat not mincemeat. I'm disappointed
ReplyDeleteLucky for us we've not experienced anything like it (yet). As for cleanliness of the shop, i can say it's clean in the customers area. we have to reserve coz they don't have it all the time. i used to cook it with little sabaw but eventually i started frying it para may tutong konti. i never thought though of washing it before cooking coz i dump it right into the pan. after reading the posts, will make sure to wash it twice before frying even if there's no foul smell.
ReplyDeleteLucky for us we've not experienced anything like it (yet). As for cleanliness of the shop, i can say it's clean in the customers area. we have to reserve coz they don't have it all the time. i used to cook it with little sabaw but eventually i started frying it para may tutong konti. i never thought though of washing it before cooking coz i dump it right into the pan. after reading the posts, will make sure to wash it twice before frying even if there's no foul smell.
ReplyDeleteToday... we bought 3,kilos of sawdust in S&R.. that is a big grocery and I think it is international ..let see what will I discover
ReplyDeleteKadalasan ginagawa ko bumibili tlaga ako ng laman ng baboy or baka then pinapagiling ko kung minsan liver, balunbalunan but never pako naka bili ng saw dust..
ReplyDeleteI'm a butcher by trade and I've always fed my dos the sawdust from work they love it and extremely good for them. If your finding stuff like staples and glass in the dust I'd say avoid the butcher completely it's could be on any meat
ReplyDeleteLuckily i didn't experience your story, i am feeding them dry dog food before, but now i am feeding sawdust mixed with dry dogfood,they really love it and ask for more, my chihuahua gained weight a lot because of this high protein diet.
ReplyDeleteI didn't experience any health problem ever since i feed them sawdust.